FORWARD DATED TO THE 30TH. VIDEO. UN: LOKI

[selfimage]

[ standing amid the outer rim of the forest are two (possibly) familiar looking godlings. the one with the long hair is smoking a cigarette and pointedly ignoring the events transpiring in front of him, while the younger one clad ostentatiously in green enamel scales and a golden diadem seems to be giving the stink eye to an innocent looking pigeon.

the dark haired green one shakes his finger, flicking away some dried blood. ]

Ah—do we declare a state of emergency? [ he drawls with a sigh, bright green eyes fixing back on the camera. ] Before the I told you sos begin, we're missing one very volatile halfling mage. It seems that he's consorting with demons and the like.

Please return him if you see him, and try not to kill him.

Comments

[selfimage]

[ HE SHOULD TAKE A SELFIE. ]

Ah—you're old.

[ curious: ]

And what of binding them?

[hellshaped]

[He is old, so he doesn't comment. AND NO, NO SELFIES...]

Yes. You need to know their true name, though. I don't like doing it; it's easier to just exorcise them and send them back to Hell. Binding them means there's always a chance they'll escape whatever object you've bound them to.

[selfimage]

Unfortunately for us we're at a loss of where to exorcise them to. I doubt the same Hell type rules apply here.

I wonder if we could just be vague—add in some fire and brimstone into the incantation and hope for the best.

[hellshaped]

Hell is Hell. All demons come from it, no matter what the basis of the religion. I imagine it's the same here.

But it's not an incantation. It's more like a, er... prayer. You need some force of faith and belief behind it, or it'll just be words. So it's not a cure-all option for everyone to use.

[selfimage]

You have a very literal interpretation of Hell. Some demons are conceived by others, called that due to their appearance or nature ...

Unless you've found evidence of it? I know they're all monotheists around here.

[hellshaped]

[A super long pause.] Evidence of Hell? Yes.

[selfimage]

Well, come on, drop the deets.

[hellshaped]

The what? [It doesn't matter --] Look, I know about these things. Like I said, 50 years of experience. I've met demons, all kinds. It's just how things are.

[selfimage]

[ he's not gonna put his hands in his face he's not. ]

Where I come from, Hel is solely for the dead, the monotheistic aspect of it came far afterward. Demons, or those so called, were made by curses and other such monstrosities. [ or, you know, borne by him or something. ] While certain aspects of the higher universes carry resonance, the details can be different.

Sometimes the details can mean all of the difference.

[hellshaped]

[This know-it-all. Hellboy's tone goes flat.] Great. I don't remember saying anything about monotheism, though. In fact, the opposite.

The point is, I know how I deal with demons. So that's what I'm gonna do.

[selfimage]

All hells differ, that's why I asked for specifics.

[ there's a sigh as he waves his hand back and forth, it can most likely be heard over the feed. ]

Fine, fine—do your fifty year old thing.

[hellshaped]

They don't, though. That's what I'm saying -- they're all the same thing. A demon is a demon. I don't know where you're from, but on Earth, that's how it goes.

[selfimage]

There are lots of Earths. Is this your first time around the multiverse?

[hellshaped]

You're going to have to stop using made-up words someday.

[selfimage]

[ there's just a long, enigmatic and exasperated sigh from this end. ]

[hellshaped]

[That doesn't help, dude!]

What?

[selfimage]

You really do know how to show your age.

[hellshaped]

Is speaking plain English out of fashion now?

[selfimage]

Times do have a tendency to change.

[hellshaped]

Is that the excuse you're gonna use? Just tell me what the hell you're talking about. Multiverse?

[selfimage]

The infinite realm of potential universes and possibility spawning from all—you know, resonance, that kind of thing.

[hellshaped]

My eyes are crossing. Are you talking about alternate realities?

[selfimage]

Kinda-sorta. You could say "close enough."

[hellshaped]

So what you're saying is that potentially, demons in different realities have different origins altogether?

[selfimage]

It wouldn't be an off-the-wall conclusion.