If samhain and/or Halloween was the traditional holiday of the fiends in Western culture, the spring solstice was exactly the opposite. Which was to say that there was probably just as much candy exchanging hands, merriment being made, and just as much kinky sex being had as on the nights when the spirits of the dead were closest to the Earth. In spring, it was just a matter of potential life being the cause for celebration, in every sense of the term possible. Being the son of a farmer Stephen had a personal appreciation for both, though he tended to lean toward preferring harvest season because at least after harvest he got to sit on his ass all winter as a teenager, whereas spring celebrations usually meant only the very beginning of long working summers.
Now that he no longer had to worry about seeding, he leaned more toward preferring spring, especially because the demons got up to a whole lot less when people were so damn happy that winter was finally over. Some of them even took the creation of new life as a personal insult, and would seasonally bitch to him about how all the fertility spirits were causing them to lose sleep or gain weight any other equally ludicrous claim to pass the time.
Stephen still found it hilarious, if mildly annoying. But in the grand scheme of things considerably less annoying than the possessions, bad ouija summonings, and other bullshit that tended to result from all the American pop fiction interpretations of Halloween. Some of which actually did shit, but while most didn’t, there was no shortage of dark spirits willing to make due with even the smallest and most febrile of opportunities.
Come springtime, the only opportunities they could bank on for the season were spurned lovers after Valentine’s Day, and a standing (though never established) permission to annoy the Sorcerer Supreme about their inconveniences.
So when he opened the door to find any sort of demon on his stoop in and around springtime, he may have been biased in assuming the reason for their visits. Short of it being Daimon Hellstrom, he wasn’t often wrong and so had never had much grounds to reconsider his chronic springtime allergy to demonic bellyaching.
“Look, frankly, if you’re here to complain about noisy neighbors in the mythical beings community, you’re just going to have to deal with the springtime revelers like the rest of us. If you’re really looking for peace and quiet, at this time of year Hell is actually probably your better bet.” He let one arm hang loose at his side, the other hand resting unimpressed at his hip. He wasn’t exactly barring entrance into the Sanctum, but he wasn’t outright welcoming it either. He’d made that mistake once last spring, and the house had been furious with him for more than a week for accidentally letting in a banshee who didn’t understand that “not no” didn’t also mean “yes.”
“Or have you got some actual business for me that doesn’t involve a particular seasonal complaint?”
he avoided holiday’s like the plague; it didn’t matter what one it was. they all seemed to blend in together with people singing songs or worse… wanting him to join in. it was to that very reason the demon normally locked himself away in a hotel room with the thermostat close to minus five celsius.
sure, it was colder than most humans would enjoy, but he wasn’t human. not entirely at least and the cold ( for the most part ) was a way to calm him down. not to say it helped much, but it worked wonders when the entire world wanted to be too cheerful for his liking.
though, it didn’t matter now – this wasn’t a simple normal day where he could hide away from his problems. if it was, he wouldn’t even be here, and just maybe he would have been at a bar drinking down the best alcohol money could buy this side of the world.
“yeah, about that,” a pause. “hell’s out of the question.” instead of elaborating, ky started to make his way forward. “a reason to why i’m here.” it wasn’t the only reason, but it was one of the few primary one’s. “see, i wouldn’t complain about noisy neighbors. i would just kill them… slowly.” then again, he doubted that the one he was speaking with would want to hear that.
a reason to why he shifted the subject as quickly as he could by giving a shrug. “either way, this isn’t about seasons, the time change, or people wanting to force me to ‘give into love of jesus’.” he could have gone on, but decided not to as his arms slid behind his back. “this is more of… business that is best spoken behind closed doors.”
Did he happen to think before goading the demon? Unlikely. And for his folly, a worthy punishment was received. When the second punch is thrown, the thunderer does fell something – a very many things, in fact, all of which stemmed from the same source; pain.
Stunned, Thor is forced into retreating, staggering backwards like someone under the influence as a hand is raised to nose. Now that was a jab that had a significant punch to it! Breaking out in a chuckle, he lowers his gaze to his hand as he pulls it away from his face, spying ruby droplets. “I stand corrected! There is more to you than meets the eye, Ky’lar Richardson!”
Motivated by the sight of his own godly blood drawn, the blond forms is hands into fists, adopting a fighting stance. “If you keep it up, I might start to enjoy this little squabble of ours.”
thor wanted a punch, so ky made sure to give him one. it was, after-all, just fun, and games to him. a punch here, a punch there, and several more just for sport. he never knew when to pull away; it was easier to punch another into their death than stop himself from doing otherwise.
of course, that all changed when the other used his last name. he hated it more than being known as the son of blackheart, but at least the later had some power behind it. his… human name did not. it was a simple statement to the fact he was always going to be constricted by his origins.
a reason to why the demon’s mood changed for the worst as his tone turned darker. “don’t use that name.” he could handle ky’lar, that was what he was used to, but not his last name. it was just too personal. not to mention the use of it almost always (unless he trusted the person who used it or was his grandfather) send him into a blind rage.
a rage that he wasn’t sure he could come out of as he rushed forward to send another fist right into thor’s chest – not even caring that the other had adopting a fighting stance. no, this was no longer a simple game for him. this. was. personal.
“i’m giving you one simple warning; don’t get in my way.” well, it was more of a way to set the bar, but all the same, he doubted that the other would actually take his words to heart. “who knows what might happen if you do.”
“You call that a punch? I have seen the children of Asgard hit harder!”
did he hold back? he didn’t think he did, but he was trying his hardest not to use his abilities. he was trying his hardest to prove he was something with-out them. maybe he just couldn’t cut it with out tapping into his power. maybe that was why he always would be weak.
a reason to why the taunt made him angry. far angrier than he had been in quite a while as he sent another punch. though, this time, ky made sure to use every bit of his power behind it, and this time he was sure it would do more than just a slight amount of damage.
Peter honestly didn’t know what to say, but he did blow out a breath. “I think I know a lot of people in masks with looser morals.” He stated. “You may not be wearing a mask, but I’d wager you’ve got pretty loose morals.”
“morals are relative and restrictive.” more to the point, he didn’t seem to enjoy them too much either, “wearing a mask simply means you have something to hide, i, on the other-hand, do not.” at least anything that needed to be hidden in a very obvious manner.
if she didn’t know better she’d think she touched a nerve. if he even had any to speak of. she’s been around him long enough to question it, temper bristling at his comment that her response had flown out of her mouth without hesitation. in a way it was true. he only saw what he wanted to see because that’s all that had mattered to him. she hadn’t gone out of her way to prove him wrong and apparently that’s where it fell apart. “I’m not playing at anything.” tone’s sharper than glass when she throws his words back at him. “I’m trying to live my life with as few casualties as possible and if that means not being 100% honest, I’m okay with that.” the truth was relative and it’s not like he’d been very forthcoming either.
once upon a time… he may have wished the same. to get through his life with no casualties, but that wasn’t how the world worked. not around him at least. it was usually have a rampage and then calm down. the morality of it didn’t concern him. not anymore. “ you say that now, but do you really believe that? you might not be playing something now, but you will be. ” or so he thought at least. “ do what you want, but keep me out of it. I have enough problems with out you.”
there was a roll of his eyes. “i wouldn’t do anything for you anyways. far too loud for my liking.” not to mention she clashed with his style. “an’ for the record? we’re not friends.” even if she was as close as he was to actually having one.
“I never do what anyone tells me so why should I listen to you?” he’s not her S.O. or her partner since she’d specifically requested not to have one. respect has to be earned and so far she sees no reason to extend it.
“because i’m asking nicely.” rather, he thought he was asking decently enough so she wouldn’t exactly stick around. that way, he could do what was needed, and get out of there. “that should be enough.”
“give me a computer and a good wifi connection and I could do it for you no problem.” it might take her longer than it used to since she was out of practice but she could still get it done. it’d feel good to get back to the basics again. remember who she used to be before S.H.I.E.L.D. became her entire life. “what’s in your records that you’re wanting to erase?” and how deep will she have to go to do it?
now, that was something he could do. a decent computer with a wifi connection? check. wouldn’t even be hard to find in all reality. once that was done… she could do what he wanted. “everything.” at least… everything she could get ahold of. several fires and the investigation into the death’s of his grandparents / guardians would still be there. a reason he wanted them erased… as well as whatever record besides that was on file also. “and i mean everything.”
Had he expected Ky to cower in fear, drop all staged attempts at being disruptive, he might’ve found the time to act disappointed. But he wasn’t a fool– at least not an intentional one. He’d met Ky’s kind before, seen firsthand how such stubbornness had led many a misguided soul to a premature demise. If he was fixated on this particular path, Thor wasn’t going to try and dissuade from traversing it.
“An acceptable price to pay if it meant silencing your incessant tongue for a while.” Shaking the half-breed as he spoke, he was willing to face a father’s wrath if it was worth teaching a fool a harsh lesson. Words were, in his belief, not his strongest skill, but a fight on the other hand? Crossing blades with those of his opponents? He could not think of a more suitable way to teach Ky the lessons he sorely lacked.
“You seem capable of talking a lot, Ky’lar. But are you as good a fighter as you are at boasting about consequences yet to occur?”
a smirk spread across his lips — even as he was shaken it never wavered. no, he wasn’t going to back down from his words. not now and not ever. he was going to make a name for himself and the only way to do that was to show just what he could do.
of course, having backup by way of his father always helped. sometimes, all he had to do was say the name, and he got what he wanted. it was just all too easy and a real fight would be amusing. might even be able to let him use everything at his disposal — just to put this son of odin in their place.
“oh, i’m sure i could take you.” though, he wasn’t too sure about what the outcome would be in the long term — even when ky fought beasts ten times his size there were consequences. though, for good or otherwise… was up for debate. “no doubt about that.”
Hellfirebound 