Owner	Pose
Loki	The house on Emerald street has been quiet. Quiet, considering that by all appearances, there may be some kind of hellmouth there that is open. Occasionally the building that imploded shudders, as if it were in weird, death throes. Nothing has spewed forth, though, so it is simply a site of 'supernatural activity', now under a defensive area and ring of SHIELD forces. SHIELD scientists and researchers have spent the past week clearing the debris as well, to try to get a better look at the scope of the problem there. Today, somebody was cleaning, and stepped on part of a rune that had formerly been on a wall. The site trembled, as a sudden outpouring of cash went off like a mini volcano from what's left of the black statue. A few of the black slugs showed up that were buried under the house at that time, sucking up the money like small squishy vacuum, and there's activity around trying to catch and contain them. A little bit later, two consultant people 'showed up'. And by 'showed up', they just were present, among the various cleanup crew, examining things. Nobody's sure exactly who let them in, or whose approval they have, but they must have it, to have gotten in. They are dressed in suits, and consist of a tall, powerful woman with nearly-white short hair, frowning and grumpy, pretty pale. The other is a shorter middle-aged man that is balding, with a darker complexion. He looks like he'd be perfect for a billboard of an injury lawyer next to the text 'WHO HURT YOU?'. They're just like any of the other mystic hero types brought in, there's been a mix of those. But SHIELD doesn't have them on any roster. They've just discussed the black statue and dug around to look at the ritual designs.
Corben Kelly	Considering all that's happened, Corben has made it an almost nightly routine to walk past the hoarded Hell Hole, always with 'ears on'. He never fails to greet, and maybe annoy, any SHIELD agent near with a not and a, "S'up?" when he walks through. He's taken to carrying Kib in a backpack with a hard bottom and mesh sides. It's officially a cat carrier. At least it's not one of those things with the big space craft bubbles for them to look out? Still, it's out of place on the slacker potion slinger. Potion slinger, to that end he's also gone out of his way to make sure that he has anything and everything he can carry that's 'get the fuck out, demon' to 'go back to Hell and don't let the door hit you on the way out, demon' potions in his arsenal. His lips are still stained a faint azure blue from one attempt at mixing the proper this with that. It could be worse, it could still be his entire face and the front of his white hair. As it stands, it looks like he's just made a poor fashion choice. As he draws nearer the house Corben asks, "Anything different tonight, Kib?"
Tom McCarthy	It was in his best interests, and WANDs, that Tom was assigned to keep an eye on the place - especially given his previous encounters there. Arriving on scene some time ago, he looks over to the two newcomers a bit cautiously. Not outright suspicion, but still ... it's weird. He moves a bit closer - perhaps to get a better look, perhaps to eavesdrop on their conversations. The increase and odd activity is not something that was comforting, but for the most part it seemed that SHIELD and WAND had things under control. There was just the current mystery of the two newcomers. He kept an eye on them for a moment, before a growl from the Digitabulum manifests in his head. <<She's a demon, Tom.>> "So who is the other one?"
Clint Barton	Quick and efficient; that's the best way to describe SHIELD and its ability to cordon off sites. Of course, there is also an official press release that read something like 'sinkhole due to compromised foundational layers', which allows the Agency to act relatively free from media presence. A good deal of the agents are dressed as NYC public works in order to keep the ruse. The suits? Easy enough to explain as zoning officers, architects, planners, and the like. Clint doesn't look like any of those aforementioned. He's in black cargos, his dark colored winter coat is devoid of any obvious markings, but perhaps the black on black embroidered outline of a SHIELD emblem can be discerned. If one looks hard enough, that is. Sunglasses are propped atop his head as he exits an obvious governmental black sedan, the door closing behind him. He strides towards one of the men on watch, talking in soft tones, all the while, blue eyes are looking at the cordoned area just before them. Information is obviously passing before them before Clint Barton looks up and sees Corben, and there, his gaze lingers. "Okay," he answers the agent he's speaking with, and with a nod he breaks off. Roll call.. and there's another with whom he'd shared some of that fun demonic playtime. Another nod, and Clint turns to approach the rubble pile..
Loki	"Bad feeling, Corbs. Just bad feeling," answers Kib, in a tight little voice. Kibbles didn't really want to come, and had been repeating some concerns about that. Still, Kib'kir has been a little bit sick, too, turning a weird pale greenish color around the edges, so maybe it's just a stressed out slug anyway. The woman in the white suit isn't talking right now, she's got her arms folded as if she would prefer to be somewhere else, and returns Tom's stare when he looks at her directly. It may feel like a 'I see you too, so what?' look. Or maybe it's just resting bitchface. The other lawyer-looking suit has decided to pry up part of a design-covered floorboard and look under it. Mostly SHIELD has avoided actually manipulating the ritual runes. Maybe for good reason: the interuppted drawings flare with a thick green ichor glow, dangerously bubbling along the curved sigil.
Corben Kelly	When Clint's gaze lingers in his direction, Corben extends one finger on his finger-less leather gloved right hand. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know which finger, but hint; it's a finger not a thumb. With the little half quirk of a smile playing on his lips, it's almost difficult to tell if that was an insult or just a comedic greeting. But his attention diverts quickly. Even from a distance it's not terribly difficult for him to pick up bits and pieces of conversation via reading lips. Of course he doesn't have enough eyes to be on all the conversations happening, but he'll hone in one that seems interesting and relevant before moving on to the next if that one doesn't pan out. Maybe he should have left his little friend at home, but Corben really didn't want to come home with all his silverware gone /again/. "It's okay buddy, if shit gets real, I'll open the zipper and you can fly back home to wait for me." 'Home', seems he's really grown fond of the little slug-bat if he's calling his home, its home. "They probably shouldn't be lifting that, huh?" he asks, still talking to his little friend. He hasn't missed Tom's presence again, Duck's man. He takes a quick glance around to see if the woman herself is in the house, but no. He moves closer until he's just flirting with the line of 'Move on, kid, you aren't supposed to be here!' "Hey guys! You probably... I mean my friend says it's getting bad!" What's getting bad? He has no idea. But when your demon slug-bat buddy says it has bad feelings about a hoarded Hell Hole, it should at least be noted to those standing right next to it.
Tom McCarthy	<<I am uncertain. Not normal, but not certain as to what he is, Tom.>> Digitabulum is focused on the woman with the white hair, at the moment. There's clearly a bit of a standoff. Tom's eyes dart to the other man, then to Clint. A nod of acknowledgement to the likely more senior agent. Then a look to Corben as he chimes in. "Your friend?" A glance is given to the cat carrier. "Ah." At least Digi hasn't just burst out with the blasting and armor! Looking back to the two unknowns, he steps closer. "So what's the situation? I am assuming at least one of you is here to do some damage control?" His eyes fixate on the woman.
Clint Barton	Now, Clint doesn't know everyone in the SHIELD hierarchy, he doesn't. He couldn't. But, he's high enough in the pecking order that he can, and does, have a tendency to take his job very seriously. And in this case, while this area isn't his responsibility, he wants to make sure it's in the right hands. Personal request and all. The 'greeting' imparted by Corben in his direction has the archer smirking ever so slightly before he nods. Upon approach, Clint calls out, "Oh hey, I wouldn't do that. And, can I see your IDs real quick? This place gives me the willies, and I'd hate for anyone to be messing with it who doesn't know what they-- whoa.,." green ichor glowing? "Don't do that." That is absolutely a follow-up to Tom's 'greeting'. Just in case more weight needed to be leveled. Clint's been around enough witches to know that if he's not feeling the hairs on his arms stand up on end, there's probably no magical energy going on. At least maybe on the 'good guy' side. So, he's coming to the conclusion that //maybe// this isn't too kosher. But if they are, they should be more than happy to discuss this with him, with them, to talk about discoveries and potentials.. and what the very hell all this is. When Corben makes his announcement, however.. 'it's getting bad'? There really needs to be a discussion...
Loki	"We don't do IDs," the tall woman determines, coldly, but it's mostly just informational. She then says something in another language over her shoulder to her lawyer-looking companion. She is less of a lawyer, and more of, say, someone that makes sure the skeevy lawyer isn't beaten up while he's talking to his drug-lord defendants. That's more what her 'vibe' is. Aside from also being identified by Tom's blade as a demon, she doesn't really look it. She doesn't have fangs or anything. "Don't do that," the man closest to the designs admonishes the woman. It's not mean, just a sort of guide, like he's teaching her. The vibe between the pair is probably backwards. "English only. No need to be rude." He gives the arrivals a sort of distracted half-smile, clearly intending to do what he's doing. If the glow is harmful-- he's RIGHT on top of it, and doesn't seem worried about being blasted by the runes. He did find more: under the floorboard, is another layer on the concrete, brown and gross intricate lines of the ritual. So it was walls, floor, and under the floor. "We're here to close this up. Sound good to everyone?" he asks, in the same tone he might have suggested an injured client accept a good settlement. It's easygoing, welcoming of Clint's approach to chat. The woman looks unhappy, but yeah -- that's her face.
Corben Kelly	Corben reaches into a pocket to let his fingers dance over the array of potions stuffed in there. He repeats the process with the other pocket. He can tell each one by touch due to the differences in vial sizes, lids and even texture. It's taking every single thing he has to not rip one of the 'close the door and don't let it hit you' varieties out, yell something about fire in the hole and make an attempt to lob the thing right at that green glowing crap. He's nervous and twitchy, riding on a hair trigger. It's not a feeling he's used to having. But he manages to not do any of that and just stand there watching. "That bitch seems sketch," he murmurs to his buddy. I can see her lips but I can't make out what she's saying. Can you hear her?" His leg twitches, his hand close around a specific vial. "C'mon, Smalls, gimme a rundown?" he prompts the little demon. "What's going on here, besides 'bad feels'?" He chews on the corner of his blue upper lip before calling, "Hey assbutt!" Who's assbutt? Someone's been watching too much Supernatural. "Make him stop that!" Clint seems to be the 'make him stop that dude', so he must be Assbutt.
Tom McCarthy	Tom's eyes narrow at the woman - clearly he'd be all too happy to just slash or blast her out of the picture. The fact that the other man seems to hold some sway over her is a puzzle to the WAND agent, however. He turns his focus to this other man. "Given your current company, how can we be certain that is your intention?" He asks. There's no aggression, more of a matter-of-fact question. "Keep at a distance from that one." He mentions to Clint, indicating the woman. Corben, he figures can sort himself out.
Clint Barton	"Yes, yes we do IDs," Clint returns, blue eyes leveled on the woman now with the resting bitch face. He's annoyed, which almost prevents fear and/or apprehension, but there is that tell-tale heart that is beating just a little faster. The 'other language' over the shoulder has the archer kipping his head slightly. He knows a few languages, and that? Just like German (which always sounds like the speaker is angry), this unidentified language sounds like, yes.. nuns would probably not be happy. Tom's warning only reinforces his belief that //she// is going to be an issue. Clint takes a couple of steps forward again, before he twists around, gaze steel-eyed at Corben. "Quick way to get yourself tossed off scene." He's not kidding around with all this demonic stuff going around... and so far? Not impressed! Maybe one day. Two for two.. both admonishing those with them, which would give Clint something of a commonality with the guy stepping on the boards, but it's ichor. And he hasn't forgotten. "Who are you with? Because right now, I don't think 30 seconds of your time is gonna matter to show me your creds." He nods towards the green glow, "Then, more than happy to let you do your thing. When I check with the Old Man.. cause I didn't get a message saying you were coming out." Here, he's keeping his tones conversational, friendly but absolutely professional. He's in SHIELD Agent-mode... and right now? He has no idea what the hell that stuff is, what is going on. He just wants to be sure that it won't get //worse// is all.
Loki	Kib'kir answers, "That's a demon tongue. She said something about revealing what she is. I don't think we want her to do that," he whispers. "Am quiet now." Kib'kir is hiding, being a flat and invisible slug now. Shhhh! "Certain portals are not desired to remain open. I am assigned to close undesired portals on THIS side," the woman answers, then, when Clint asks. She clicks her tongue on her teeth. The other man gives a sort of 'nah, we're fine, back off,' gesture at her haphazardly. He is not giving the group full attention, he is clearly looking at the ritual itself. He's just not worried about them, like he's sure it'll all work out all right. "She's on the side of Hell. I vary a little. Depends. Really, though, I'd like to close this." There's nothing but honesty about that statement. A direct look. "And I can do that. But it's like re-setting a broken bone. We need to break it a little before it'll mend. I can understand the distrust about that. But it needs to be shut."
Corben Kelly	"Hey man, I'm just trying to keep this shit chill!" Corben calls back. He falls back on one of his favorite tricks. He pulls a vial from his pocket and paints his blue lips black with the powder the vial contains. When he speaks again, it's in a whisper and it's right in Clint's ear. "Listen, that chick is definitely a demon and she was saying something about maybe revealing her true self. I'm not sure we want that to happen," the words tumble out rapid fire as he tries to get it all in. "I don't necessarily think they're the enemy. Oh, also, the stuff stolen from your warehouse is in Baltimore. Just keep a really close eye on those two." Once he's whispered his sweet nothings into Clint's ear, he addresses Kib, "It's all right buddy, we'll dip out of here as soon as I know no one is going to open a giant gaping Hell hole that might swallow up all of Chelsea, including me and you. I'll even let you have three rolls of quarters when we get home."
Tom McCarthy	Another look to the woman. There's a narrowing of his eyes, before Tom moves back to take out his phone. "I am going to call this up the chain." He offers over to Clint. "He sounds sincere, but most lawyers or car salesman can pull that off." He explains. "Anything comes out of that hole, I'm stuffing it back in there." He says, before stepping out of earshot to make his calls.
Clint Barton	"Look, I get it. Hell hole, close it. I'd love nothing more. But the more you don't, the later it'll get done because I can't have you messing with it unless I'm satisfied you are who you say you are. We could have gotten it taken care of a minute ago and I'd be more than happy to help now." Clint looks between them, absolutely heeding Tom's warning. "Either that, or just tell me who you are, because you sure as hell aren't one of my people." Tom's brief stepping aside to make some phone calls is perfect. Not a matter of pay-grade, not in Clint's book. Field Agents are autonomous. They need to have the freedom to act; it's the checking and double checking of credentials, and perhaps a hint of 'what to look for' and 'what red flags are'. He doesn't know magic from, well, hole in the ground other than what he knows from his Avenger teammates. And even then, they never cease to surprise him. Corben's distant whispers has him keeping an eye on the pair, but nodding in acknowledgment. 'Not necessarily the enemy'. Damn.. is he willing to bet on it and let the guy do what he //says// he wants to do, or (try) to take them down now to keep all //that// from getting worse. Or will it just get worse already? (Of course it will...)
Loki	"Sidra, I think you're making this harder than it need be. Racism with demons is what it is, sometimes. Go on," the man bids to the tall woman, Sidra. She looks put off, but doesn't argue about it. She starts to head out of the building rubbish directly, assuming nobody stops her or makes her stay. She gave up on being a bodyguard real quickly. "All right. Let's satisfy, as you've kindly asked. I will do what I can," determines the lawyer man. He's not special to look at... really just ordinary. And he comes over in an ordinary way, no leaping or heroics. Just a guy. He climbs out of the rubble fully now, full attention placed on Clint. And offers a handshake, but it doesn't seem like he'd be put off if Clint was uncomfortable with it. "Let's start over. What do you need from me, so that I can fix this for you, and nobody is harmed?" he asks. His tone is pleasant, entirely diplomatic. He sent Sidra away as a peace offering.
Corben Kelly	Still whispering sweet nothings from a distance, Corben says, "I mean, I don't think they're the enemy right /now/, but who knows about later? My friend doesn't seem put off by the man, seems a little more chill now that the woman is gone stage right. They may close this and open another. Maybe they're closing this one because it got busted and it has SHIELD eyes all over it? It's not like they can stage a world domination if they're being actively watched, yeah? I don't know, you do you and all that, but I wouldn't until after they close it. Then take them down and waterboard them at your super secret lair?" He's really rambling now, also something he doesn't usually do. There's just something about potential portals to Hell that set a dude on edge. In a last ditch effort to calm his jittery nerves, Corben lights a smoke. It's a sweet smelling thing, but not anything familiar to the masses. "You hanging in Kib?" he asks as he pulls a few shiny new dimes from his pocket and drops them through the spot in the bag where he left the zipper open. "Promise, we'll be out soon. You're okay, I won't let anything happen to you." Once he's hit that smoke a few times, he mellows right out and just watches and 'listens in' on the conversation via that handy, dandy lip reading.
Clint Barton	When the demon in a woman-suit departs, there is definitely a change in the air. While there is still a tenseness lingering, it's not as 'stand off' ish as it perhaps may have felt like only moments ago. It give Clint a little more breathing room, and when the man breaks off from where he is, and approaches, the archer is staying put. A hand extended is a hand taken, Clint's grip firm but not overbearing. No ego plays here. "Yeah.. all I really want to know is who you are. Apparently you think you can close that, and right now, to be honest, that'd be really nice. But, you gotta understand and recognize that we're a little leery about it all. Not to insult you or anythingm, but portals to hell aren't something to play with, you know?" Corben's help in the matter is actually helpful, but Clint is a good enough poker player that he doesn't let on that he's getting a little bit of whispered advice. Makes sense, really. See? The archer actually does listen to others!
Atrice Duckstein	Ducky is /late/ to this party! But she manages to find where folks are. For the moment she stays back, not wanting to interrupt too many conversations. Though her mismatched gaze gives a curious look to the unknown people. "I hope I'm not interrupting?" she asks as she keeps her bag over her shoulder. She does give a wave to Corben and notices Kib'kir in the carrier, "Kibby." she grins and wiggles her fingers at the imp. "Agent Barton." she dips her head to Clint. Then she looks to the unknown man, "Not sure we've met. I'm Atrice." she offers. "Just...need to know where you guys need me at." she states.
Loki	"Hi, Atrice. Agent Barton." He's picked up the names off of Atrice's arrival. "And other friend," he says, looking over at Corben. "In the interest of honesty, I should tell you that I can hear the magic communication. I dislike pretending," he asides more quietly to Clint, perhaps well aware that Corben can hear all of that. "But I can pretend I don't hear, if you like." There's an amusement there, low key, relaxed. The handshake was fine, nothing supernatural or weird. Forgettable, maybe. "All right, I didn't want to give you this ID, since it won't give the information you really are after." He does pull a wallet out, and show the ID. Larry Anchors. Middle aged. Kansas. It's super uninteresting, except that the picture is something else: Larry has a big smile and is sort of waving in it. Maybe he's a fun guy on weekends. "The 'with' question. It's easier to say who I'm /against/, than who I'm with. I'm against those who set up this ritual here. I'd like very much for them to stop."
Corben Kelly	"Kib that dude's a Master, isn't he?" Corben asks, eyes still focused on the discussion. He doesn't catch all of it, what with still standing just this side of the line that shall not be crossed. But he catches most of it, enough to get the gist of it. "Do you know the demon bitch's real name? Don't answer that, not yet. I'll ask again when we get home." Just in case to speak it is to bring it giving their close proximity to her. He's not /rambling/ at the little demon sprog, in fact his voice is slow, tooootally relaxed. "Hey, look, see it's cool. There's Dr. Duck, she won't let anything happen to you either." He returns Atrice's wave, it's a much nicer greeting than the one he gave Clint. Wait. Wait. Wait. Something the demon woman said. Once again, he sends a whisper to Clint's ear. "She said /this/ side." Maybe he read her lips wrong, but he's almost positive. "She said, she's meant to close the portal on /this/ side..." Well, Hell, he cuts that right off. Shit, does that mean Demon Bitch heard as well? Corben could just say fuck it all and move forward now that his 'cover' is blown, but he doesn't. He hangs back on the fringes for safety sake, Kib's safety. "I'm guessing not," he says to the slug-bat.
Clint Barton	It is probably the handshake that settles things for Clint. That, and, well, the archer from Iowa can respect anyone from Kansas. That, and the fact that the man seems plain-spoken. He actually chuckles as he retrieves his hand, "That whole 'magic' magic thing. Probably better anyway to just," Clint turns slightly to sign at Corben, 'It's okay' in rapid handsign. Most don't understand ASL anyway, so.. While Clint may not be fully convinced, he is enough to actually allow the man, now identified as Larry Anchors, to turn his attention back to the portal to hell with a slight, general hand gesture in the direction of the concern. Of course, the archer is going to ask questions, however. "How does something like this happen, and how can we guard against it later?" Even as he's asking the question, Corben offers up another warning in his ear. 'close the portal on this side'. For the moment, he's not really paying too much attention to the nuance. Though, doors do have two sides, right? Then again, maybe it's not a 'hell portal'. There are dimensional portals that he's seen, and.. well.. Yeah.
Atrice Duckstein	Ducky missed the exit of Sidra, but that was fine! She gives a curious look to Corben and Clint, but doesn't say anything. "We're closing a portal. It's like a regular day that ends in 'Y'." she murmurs softly to that. She listens as the unknown man explains that he is against the people that opened the portal. She looks hella wary of it for reasons not known. She walks around for a moment, checking over the ground of the rubble to see if anything is jumping out as the guys talk. "Demon bitch? That's not nice..." she muses. "Did Kibby say that?" she chuckles.
Loki	Kib answers, "Don't know. Maybe Master. Don't know that lady, no. Just her... feel. She feels scary. Can't feel guy, unsure what that means. Maybe safe. Don't know." Ducky's question: "Didn't say it, but is accurate. She is demon bitch, yes." Accuracy. As for Clint's statement: Larry sees a Success! Back to the portal situation! And now, since they've been friendly, it seems to have improved things overall, to where Larry Anchors will freely answer the question that Clint has asked. "There are several general motives. Usually invasion. Sometimes simply travel, from a demon that decides to use hell as a train station while they pass to another area here. /These/, though, aren't standard gates. Someone got really creative," chatters Larry conversationally. "While they're gates, they're more like..." he considers a good word, as if picking his favorite from various choices. "Pumps. Very one-way. Pulling from there, to here. Siphon. Normally there's more give and take, but this is holding open a connection, to feed off of hell. That's a rough description, and has some guesswork in it. But my best assessment." "So, why do that," Larry says, like he's a lawyer in front of a jury, and leading them through the motives on a case. "Someone needed the hell resources to function here. I see Bathkaros corpses all over, so I can think of a few Gluttony demons immediately." A look is sent towards Corben, but not unfriendly. "Bathkaros, which would look to you like large slug, are spawned from power overflow, to store extra for later. Lets them over-eat." "...But I digress. I'll close this up, but as I said, it'll flux. Unless one of you wants to stabilize here, block the siphon," he offers. The tone is one of that he's trying to barter, to reduce his threat level.
Corben Kelly	<<Just be careful.>> Corben signs back. <<I don't really know if you're an asshat or not, kind of thinking yes since you let your grunt shoot me. But still, I don't want to see your face eaten by whatever he may be.>> He has nothing else to say on the matter until he knows Mr. Ordinary - what a load of bullshit - doesn't, in fact, know ASL. He still hangs back, even though Corben would like to step into the actual inner circle. He's just too worried about his buddy. "Ya know, everyone keeps asking you the wrong questions. The normal ones like 'who are you' and 'who are you working for'. If we're being honest here, I have one for you, "What are you? Because I'm just venturing a guess here that you're not just an average Joe Blow human." He's not shouting, in fact he's still pretty chill. He's just raising his voice enough to be heard across the little bit of distance between the inner circle and him. When Atrice approaches, he admits, "No that was all me. She was making Kib hella nervous." His visual attention is still on Clint and Mr. Ordinary. He straightens a little, like he's posturing to make himself look bigger when the dude goes on about slug demonlings. Don't mess with his Kibs! "Hey, Mr. Bossman," aimed at Clint. At least it's better than Asshat? Corben pulls a bottle from his pocket. It's one of his larger ones, wide and round at the base going up into a thin neck. "Catch!" He'll wait until he's sure Clint is ready before soft lobbing the bottle in his direction. "It might work." It'll either close it and stabilize it, just close it or maybe make it rain frogs? The bottle contains a semi-liquid substance in a strange purplish green hue, it moves more like mercury than an actual liquid. "Just dump it in?" If you're brave enough.
Clint Barton	Ducky is wary, and for good reason. Is closing portals really a daily occurence? Corben as well, and absolutely for good reason. But, Clint's playing the dangerous game and playing the 'we really have no choice in the matter' game, and once a rapport is created, it'd be a shame to ICE the man. Particularly when he appears to be genuinely helpful. To be honest, however, the 'what are you' isn't a bad question to ask. But, now that it has been asked? From the brief lecture in hell portals and their various uses, there is a bit of respect there. After all, Dr. Strange is kinda weird but knows a lot.. Clint looks back at Corben, catches the signing and frowns, adding, "You touched things from demon slug spawn. Of course I had you tranq'ed." But, he's not going to argue the point. He doesn't care enough to press it. And, if the man continues to be obnoxious? Well.. yeah. The potion, however, is lobbed, and Clint makes a catch as easily as, perhaps, he throws things. "What is..." this? "Uh.." Unknown liquid given to him that he's only met one time before, and is friends with a demon. Who touched what was probably a cursed item.. Right. "Talk to me, Larry. What are we doing here, and what can be done, without, say, something eating me."
Atrice Duckstein	Ducky raises her hands, "Well excuse me, Kib'kir." she chuckles. "Whatever you say your slugishness." she states. She is then distracted by what they are doing here. She shoots a look to Corben, "Well, if she was making him nervous then probably bad news." she frowns. Or the little guy was just scared of all higher ranking demons? She wasn't sure. She crouches down looking at the symbols. Hmm. Then her brown and green gaze looks to Larry, "I'll help." she tells him. Then she's standing, heading over towards him. "How do you know so much about demon portals and things?" she asks him with a smile.
Loki	Corben's question gets a quick bark of a laugh. Ask a sassy question, get a sassy answer! Larry lifts one hand hand in 'three' sign to the side of his temple, and then pulls hand down a few times while curling the fingers. He follows it with a scary face; teasing smirk and wink, clearly kidding. He mocked Corben by telling him he's the devil. The lobbed potion gets a look, and thoughtful consideration. "Hm. That could work. Spray that on this outer arch of the sigil here, burn it out with that. The portal will flux backwards, since you'd be inverting it. Probably very dangerous. You'll work from here--" he shows the left side, and walks around the design, in a clear path. "To here. You'll see it peel backwards." He looks at Ducky. "You'll help? You're hired. After about thirty seconds, push the statue's remains into the rift. I'll handle the closure; the statue is the main conduit. Quick and easy." Ducky's question causes Larry to calm. "Mmm, just my life. I wouldn't be around demons and hellgates if I could choose," he says, with a self-reflective, odd quality. "When do 'heroes' get to retire, anyway?" he remarks towards Clint, but starts towards the remains of the ritual and statue.
Corben Kelly	Corben resists the urge to respond to Mr. Ordinary in the same way he first greeted Clint. In all seriousness though, he really doesn't want to see anyone get hurt. He's a cocky little shit, but he's not a heartless one. He shrugs off the backpack and sets it down, still unwilling to bring his buddy closer. "I can do that," he offers loudly enough to be heard. "I mean, it's my potion after all." In other words? It's his potential ticking time bomb. Corben is good with potions, he was taught by one of the best, it's just that he doesn't do a whole lot of honing his craft on a regular basis. "I mean, you know, why should you get all the credit?" For someone skilled in reading people, Corben isn't all that difficult to read. The crap he spews is a defense mechanism really, the punk attitude keeps most people at arm's length. But when it comes right down to the bottom line, he's not interested in letting someone else potentially die by his mixes. He's also not hiding the fact that he's scared shitless very well either. Courage is having shit in your pants and still being willing to do a thing. ...not that Corben would ever call himself courageous.
Clint Barton	Ducky's approach means that Clint is about to hand off the potion to her. At least she has a little more experience with all this 'dead' stuff than he. Does 'demon' factor into it all? Who knows? The sign that Larry offers up actually has Clint barking a laugh. Absolutely not the 'right' vibes for the devil, right? Horned guy, cloven hooves.. red, and sits in hell all day? The object of fear placed in the hearts of all kids if they don't share their toys? Corben's approach, however, has Clint handing the potion back to him. He knows.. and Clint is more than happy to stand aside. "Exactly. We don't, which is why my outfit is happy to have such a great retirement package. Because we'll never live long enough to actually cash it in." Nothing like optimism there, Clint! With Ducky offering to help, and the potion given back to Corben, Clint is ready for, well.. crowd control? The slugs were easy enough to take out, and so he unholsters his pistol and slides off the safety.
Atrice Duckstein	"Alright, looks like we've got a plan." Ducky gives a little clap of her hands. And oh boy what was she doing?! "I don't think closing demon portals goes on the resume...well, maybe if it was for WAND or BPRD." she muses. She wanders over to walk in the path that 'Larry' did and then positions herself where she needs to be. She flexes her fingers because the demonic energy is making her senses go off. But...she still doesn't know that. There is a look to Corben and Clint, then Kibby in his little backpack. "I feel like Kib'kir is going to end up living in a doll house after this." she muses to that.
Loki	"Great. When you're ready, then," Larry says, whoever wants to do whichever job, he doesn't mind. "Destroy the part of the circle there. Push statue. Kill anything that messes with it." Yep, probably some things to fight. Larry then moves more entirely to the statue, stepping over various runes with a casualness that might make the others tense, showing Atrice the correct path to walk as he moves with her. But he doesn't ruin anything. He just gets RIGHT up on the statue, and waits, idly fixing his sleeve cuffs. He seems very calm and relaxed. But also looks sort of /odd/, just this ordinary lawyer guy going to help them close a rift to hell. "Don't fall in," he adds to Atrice. She is pretty close to the statue. "And don't lift with your back," he adds, serenely. Pro tips, if she's on statue shoving duty. Kib'kir rolls over, flopping the bag over, because it is trying to see. If Larry cares about Kib'kir, he hasn't made any indication about it.
Corben Kelly	"Just watch my backpack," Corben requests as he closes in and takes the potion back. Or have someone else do it, one way or another on the Kibby sitting. "And don't kill my friend." He swallows the bile rising in his throat. Inside, he's a giant mess of terror, but outwardly he's holding it together well enough to shoot a 'piss off' look in Mr. Ordinary's direction. He bites back the urge to ask Larry if he's a lounge lizard or why he isn't wearing a leisure suit. "Here?" he asks instead, taking up the spot indicated. He pops the top off the potion. "Dude," he aims at Clint, "If I die here, don't forget, the shit from the warehouse is in Baltimore. I'm thinking it's kind of important you all get that stuff back, yeah?" To Ducky he says, "And you take care of Kibs if I die. I met this girl, her name's Clara Jennings, make sure she gets the keys to the shop. I don't really have a will, but maybe Bossman over there can make that happen without one." He's rambling again. Seems possible death is right up there with possible opening Hell Portals to give his mouth a case of the shits. Whispering a small prayer to the Fates that he's normally cursing for showing him things he doesn't want to see, Corben starts walking the path with the bottle titled just enough to allow a small stream of the liquid-ish substance to drop with each step. He's calculated in his head about how much he needs to leave behind to leave himself enough to get to the end.
Tom McCarthy	What a thing to return to... and there's Ducky, too. Spotting the group in some sort of ready formation, Tom grumbles. Clearly, he missed it while getting approval. At least the paperwork is all going to be proper! There's a tearing sound, perhaps a bit unnervingly, as the lull in coversation occurs and the armor from Digitabulum forms over Tom's form. "What is the plan?" He asks, as he steps closer.
Clint Barton	Clint has his pistol out, already charged and ready to go just in case some escapees come popping out of the hole. "Right," the archer looks to Corben; he absolutely has a better opinion of the man. Courage means being scared .. and still doing what needs to be done. "Right, Baltimore. But you're not gonna die, and we'll get all that stuff back. A barked laugh is offered in response to Ducky, and Clint adds, "We'll get that on your resume. Promise.. hell, if it's going on mine, there's no way we'll keep it out of yours. We can redact it if you want. Eyes only." Helpful! Now, he waits for everyone to start, and finish, what has to be done.
Atrice Duckstein	"Lift with the knees. Best way not to kill your back." She grins at Larry. "And if I fall in one of you has to come get me." she muses to that. Ducky gives a look to Corben, "I don't think anyone is going to die, so don't worry on it. And I don't think my relationship would survive taking Kibby, but I will do that if you /do/ die." she states with a chuckle. Digi would just have to deal! And speak of the scantily clad devil! There's Tom! She wiggles her fingers at him before she takes up statue pushing position. Her mismatched gaze flicks to Clint, "I think Professor Broom would just be amused that I added another demonic thing to my list." she winks at him.
Loki	When Corben begins to disturb that line of the sigil with magical burning liquid, things rapidly shift. Weird white flame erupts along the line, sizzling with a potent reek of egg. And the statue visibly changes: the lower, unbroken half of the bottom shimmers and crawls with strange eyes and talons and faces of creatures within. A sharp crack bubbles up from inside it, expanding, like a strange air balloon. Part of it swells like a bubble, and Larry moves some to guide Ducky to the side, allowing it to billow, horrible like a boil on the skin of the statue, to one side. "Good so far, get to the end. Portal will open up... but---" he doesn't get to continue, because the bottom of the statue begins to spit slugs out, which confusedly rush in all directions, baffled by what is happening. They give plenty of targets for Clint to aim at, and six of them might knock Tom over if he's not prepared. They're big, and fat, like small dogs. Larry ignores them, and approaches the huge, awful boil, finally rolling his sleeves down to elbow. "Cover behind the statue after I do this," he dryly suggests, at Ducky, as if things were not going to be dry for long. A slug is trying to climb her, so she may need to deal with that first, though.
Loki	It's then, that, as Corben finishes pouring, Larry pops that horrible thing, and a ghastly, opening yawn of a hell portal fluxes, breathing in a sucking breath, like a soul struggling to gasp one last time.
Corben Kelly	"I'm on the highway to hell," Corben sings... very very very off key, as he makes his way along his path. He's deaf, he gets a pass on that. Beating on a drum kit is all about vibrations and beats, not about hitting specific notes just the right way. "....and I'm going dooooowwwwwn all the waaaaay." Singing is better than pants shitting any day of the week. He's not looking, no, not looking just singing and pouring. Looking would mean an actual acknowledgement of what's truly happening here. Even after he's finished and at the end of his road in this battle, he doesn't look directly at any of it. Instead, he looks toward the sky and, much like the portal closing, struggles to catch his breath. His hands are shaking, he's sweating and that might just be one single tear that rolled from his right eye. Nah, it's just a bead of sweat. When he finally does open his eyes, he drops the bottle he was holding and pulls out another small vial. It's simple potion, one he uses on the regular. He dumps the powder out into his hand and blows it directly at Atrice, giving it a little shove with his outward turned palms to make it go the distance. If it reaches her, for at least round about five minutes, she'll just look like a slug thing to everyone, included the other slug things. Maybe it's enough to fool these lower level things, maybe not, but it's worth a shot to keep them not focusing on her as she finishes what needs finished.
Tom McCarthy	Well, things have gone to Hell - almost literally. Tom is already in motion, if only at the behest of Digitabulum. He launches a bit into the air, out of direct contact with the slugs at the last moment. Firing down on the now multiple targets, he takes his time to start blasting those little critters with extreme prejudice. "I am keeping my word - anything coming through is being sent to their maker!" His voice has taken on an unearthly tone - set to send fear into the hearts of the demonic.
Atrice Duckstein	"Umm, you're just going to go through a Hell portal and be alright?" Ducky asks Larry as he's rolling up his sleeves. No one else might ask, but she was a little worried that someone was just so nonchalant about the act. "Oh absolutely. I'm not wanting a slug shower." she muses. Then one is crawling up her leg and she shakes it, "SHOO." she states in that foreign language she's adopted recently. She ducks behind the statue though when the thing is popped. Oh wait am I a slug?! OH NO! "Oh gross..." she seems HORRIFIED by the slug illusion. But she's rolling with it as she prepares to launch her part. Sooooon.
Loki	"No. I was going to close it on this side. But you make a good point," Larry sighs, some, in a sort of 'fiiiiine' way. It's a very odd reaction to Hell being similar to having to sit in traffic. Which is a smaller form of torture, but torture all the same. He flexes his hands out, moving to one side as the boil of awful hell-pus bursts (you just need to know where to stand), and goes right over to it, hands curved in a 'V' together on the surface of the portal. Another big breath heaves out of the portal, a gassy smokey awfulness, ending in a shrill death-rattle gasp. The last of the sigil is burned away, and Larry gives an audible to Corben: "Keep going." Does Corben even have more of that liquid? But suddenly the portal flips polarity more strongly: in, instead of out. Slugs scream and struggle to run. Larry disappears in the blinding ichor and steam -- possibly burned alive, the heat is extreme.
Corben Kelly	Keep going? Wut? He's at the end of what he thought was, well where he needed to end up. Corben picks the bottle back up and gives it a little shake. There's a drop or three left, but that's about it. Does it work like shampoo at the end of the bottle? He contemplates spitting in it to make it 'more', but tosses that thought aside. Instead, he reaches for another, smaller bottle. It too has the consistency of mercury but it's reddish orange instead of purplish green. Similar idea, different ingredients. "Well, fuck..." he breathes out with a sigh. In for a penny, in for a pound. It'll work or it won't or it might make it rain snakes. "Keep going /where/?" he asks, but it's not like Larry is in any shape to answer. "Seriously dude?! Where?!" Does he backtrack? Does he just dump it all in? If there's anything that looks like a definite path, he'll take it. Or if Larry yells up from the hellish beyond to give him further instructions, he'll take them.
Tom McCarthy	More slugs are incinerated, and a blast even lands near to where slug-Ducky is - though Tom looks a bit aghast. "SORRY!" He shouts down, watching as a lunatic is sucked into the Hellscape on the other side of the portal. Bolts of holy fury rain down on the black slug demons. "Destroy more sigils?" Tom guesses, playing air cover for now.
Atrice Duckstein	"Let's not do anything rash, no reason to throw yourself into Hell!" Ducky shouts at Larry, because that was a concerning statement to make! There are slugs everywhere, she's about to be nauseous over the wriggling. Then everything is going to Hell...quite literally! She's got a burst of unknown strength that comes out of nowhere to help her topple the statue and it starts to fall into the portal as well after Larry is probably burned alive. In a classic moment there is a comedy of errors that happen. Tom lands a shot too close and it causes her to look that way. Ducky goes to step back and there is a slug that hits her squarely given the sudden polarity shift of said portal. One minute Ducky is there, being the next 'If I was a worm?' question on Twitter... And the next second she is gone.
Loki	Keep going WHERE? Not to worry, Kib'kir is here to help! "Here! Corbs!" it pipes, nosing under the piece of the floor that was ripped up. There's the last of the circle, hidden sneaky-like by demons! They thought the group would never realize there was more below, just under them. Clever, clever...
Corben Kelly	"How did you get out?" Corben barks, startled by the sudden appearance of the little demon sprog so close to the action. He doesn't mean to sound so angry, it's more fear than anything else. "Get, go, get away from here... please?" He makes a grab for the little slug-bat with his free hand. "Shooo, go back to the bag before you get sucked in with the others!" Corben starts on the new sigil with the new potion, but if Kibs doesn't flee the area, he's going to hold on to the lil dude with all he's got. His buddy goes down, he's going with him.
Tom McCarthy	Gone? GONE?! Tom is a blur of action at that. The slug which knocked into Ducky? That gets a double-barreled blast as Tom soars down towards the portal. "DUCKY!!" He all but screams as he zooms in. For all intents and purposes, the lunatic appears to be beelining for the portal to try to rescue his partner.
Lucifer	The place Ducky lands in is a weird, somehow 'alive' region hanging between a gasp and suffocation. It's bleak, spires of decay, and the very air tries to remove flesh in every small motion of wind. "Whoa, watch your step," 'Larry' says to Ducky as he catches her on the other side. "None of that. Back you get. Finish up the closure on your side. It's the better choice; my option tends to create mystic craters that take decades to heal. Comes with the territory," he continues, with that deeper sigh at the state of things. The calm voice could be intended as a lifeline, something to center on in this place of suffering. "If you find more of these statues, though... I'll come for them. And punish those responsible." The floor is flayed souls, they reek of mixed hope when they sense Ducky standing on them. The destroyed black statue is nearby, a thousand flecks of black sand, oozing with pieces of demons. But then, she's not standing any longer, as she's send back, reality a thick spiritual whiplash. She's flung back out of Hell, strange spiritual dust grasping at her --- and the gate snaps tightly, almost shut on her heels, closing to a pinhole in size. A tiny little peephole into those depths... Ducky, now airborne, propelled out directly at Tom, perhaps a little worse for wear. Hell, and she forgot her handbasket! Kib'kir wraps around Corben's face. "Don't look in it!" Kib'kir says, protecting Corben. "Hurry, closeclose!"
Corben Kelly	Suddenly blinded by a slimy slug-bat, Corben is playing a game of guess his best as to where to pour. "I'm not looking!" he assures the little demon sprog. Close Close Close! Once his job is finished, he pulls Kib off his face and holds the little thing at eye level. "High-five Kib! You saved me!" He'll even show the little thing what 'high-five' means by doing just that to a little wing. "Is it over?!" he calls out to the others. Through all the darkness and gloom and straight up nasty shit of the night, he's smiling big because of his little buddy. He has yet to even notice the Hell boil goop on his favorite boots.
Tom McCarthy	Reflexes are a thing, and Tom does catch Ducky as she's launched out of Hell. The pair swoop upwards, away from any possible return of an intake from the vortex. "You're not allowed to go to Hell, Ducky." He says, cradling her in his arms as they move to land a bit away from the portal. Tom scans the area as he sets Ducky on her feet - steadying her if needed. He looks for Clint and Corben. "I don't know... is the portal closed?" He shouts back towards Corben's voice.
Atrice Duckstein	Ducky doesn't move once her feet hit the...flayed soul floor. There is an uneasiness that roils up in her. Her eyes snap over to Larry though and there is a confused look. Amusingly her eyes are black down here. Probably not noticeable to many. There's a bit of a fish mouth moment and in the end she decides to give a thumbs up to Larry. Because she's afraid if she talks she's going to scream. She is flung and there is that unease that snaps...something. But Tom manages to catch her. Eyes back to normal here. Nothing to be seen. She gives a nod to him. She knows he's talking...but she's a little out of sorts by the moment in Hell. Once she's on her feet though she gives a 'one moment' signal to the others and then goes to find a piece of rubble to vomit behind. Because that whiplash was not kind on the body.
Lucifer	There's no response from Hell. Just a sense of something, /someone/ looking at them through that narrow gate. Maybe Larry -- or whoever Larry actually was. Open, that even that much, it's still a direct line to Hell.... But then it's gone, dissolving as the potion seeps into the last of the drawing, and the door is firmly shut on the other side. Both things were necessary: both the destruction of the sigils, it seems, but also a force-close. Presumably done from the other side of that Open Door. "Yes," Kib answers Corben and Tom. Kib had been looking into the peephole. "He says I get to stay, if I'm good!" it adds, snuggling like a weird slug-scarf around Corben's neck.
Corben Kelly	"Yes, you get to stay," Corben murmurs. If anyone had ever told him that he'd wind up snuggling a slug-bat demonling like it was a damned puppy, he certainly would have scoffed. But that's exactly what he's doing now, even scritching the little thing on the head. "It's closed! Everyone alive over there?" He doesn't seem overly concerned about Larry, Mr. Ordinary, who turned out to be way more than ordinary.
Tom McCarthy	Tom stays near Ducky, making sure she doesn't need anything at the moment. Getting sick, that's expected. It smells like brimstone, clearly. "Get it out, yeah?" He offers to her, as if she wasn't doing that already. "I got water in the car." A look to where the portal was, a shake of his head. "That guy was not a demon... but not sure what else he could have been. Clearly not a normal man." He states, matter of factly.
Atrice Duckstein	Ducky pops out from behind the rubble, looking worse for wear. Yeah, totally sick due to Brimstone. "I'm fine." she tells Tom. "Corben, you guys good? Kibby gets to stay, yay." she offers in a cheerless way. "Will you excuse me?" she states suddenly. Then she is heading off for the car at a pretty brisk clip. Got to find a secure place to scream into the void!
Lucifer	Later, in Hell. Sidra questions, "So, on to the next one?" "When it shows up. They're masking them. To steal power quietly - but they'll make another mistake, taking too much is their nature," Lucifer / Larry shrugs. "Follow the slugs, when they gorge themselves." Sidra nods, and heads back out of Hell. She'll find the trail again.