portals

[from_scratch]

The portal system is replaced with a more secure successor over time. Inferno's subworlds are still non-urgent, but the daeva do get a portal to Limbo, where the humans present are much less likely to be able to freak out and successfully move from freaking out to doing anything along the lines of "nuke the rogue daeva and hope the summoner's within the blast radius". Cam visits his dad and gets a letter to his mom asking that she show up at his dad's house. He makes useful things in ways that won't be too traceable (if his dad's fridge has slightly more bacon and cheese and apples to share with the neighbors a few days in a row, who'll notice?), as a short-term intervention while awaiting more acculturation to the way Limbo works so they won't upset any very delicate balances. The portals to the other worlds can wait until there are actual plans on what to do with them. And possibly until their alts have more free time to help. In the meantime, Cam has his parents again.

Comments

[ask_nicely]

"... Good point, my boyfriend dying is sort of vaguely upsetting. But you're definitely still alive."

[from_scratch]

"You realize that by that logic literally no one from our world is dead. And this before we even start intervening. Kind of stretches the word 'dead'."

[ask_nicely]

"Other people are allowed to have died. I don't like it, but it's within their basic human rights. You're not, you have to not ever die. So declares your girlfriend. Who also died."

[from_scratch]

"I know you did. I was there."

[ask_nicely]

"Sorry. It's easier to joke about it, now. Um. Hug?"

[from_scratch]

Hug. "It's okay, angel."

[ask_nicely]

Hug. "It is now," she agrees, softly.

[sundayfish]

"The sort of pidgin spoken in this part of Limbo has different words for 'dead' like an animal and 'dead' like a Limboite," comments Charlie. "Think it's Chinese for the first one and Portuguese for the second. Something like that, I don't pay much attention to etymology."

[ask_nicely]

"Huh. Maybe we should use those, that's helpful. I know the angelic I picked up translated it to 'ascended' instead of dying."

[from_scratch]

"The demonic terminology is probably best translated as 'upgraded', for people who become demons, and something - more or less untranslateable for people who become angels, and it varies how the languages feel about fairies, and I think I'd render the word for becoming a Limboite as 'defaulting'."

[ask_nicely]

"The terminology for becoming an angel is something mean, isn't it," snorts Adana.

[from_scratch]

"Yes. But in an extremely untranslateable way!"

[ask_nicely]

She giggles. "Of course. The way angels referred to demons is kind of - similar. I don't know how to accurately translate it. I can try, if you're curious?"

[from_scratch]

"Sure. And vice-versa if you like."

[ask_nicely]

"Go for it, I won't be offended. Hmmm. Uh - okay, 'The cheating, useless people of wasted potential and zero skill.' Also translatable as 'blisterbutts.'"

[from_scratch]

"...Blisterbutts. Is that a reference to the tails, the lakes of fire, or something more obscure? And the words for angels tend to aim at - you know what a Mary Sue is, in literature? Characters who may or may not be written such that they actually do no wrong, but who the story considers paragons, and who are consequently really annoying. One languages also calls you 'fluff-for-brains'."

[ask_nicely]

Adana giggles. "I'm pretty sure it's a reference to all of those, but also how demons are - basically in permanent retirement and apparently do nothing but sit around. Those are - hilarious translations."

[sundayfish]

"Racial slurs over fried eggs. Very romantic." Charlie serves up fried eggs.

[ask_nicely]

"Apparently my view of romance is a bit different from the standard."

[from_scratch]

"We are very suited."

[ask_nicely]

She grins. "Plus, it's - not like either of us are going to use the racial slurs on each other. Or anyone else, really. I just think the ones for angels are somewhat entertaining."

[from_scratch]

"But you don't want me to translate 'angel' when I use it as an endearment?"

[ask_nicely]

"I can imagine it now," she snickers. "'Hey, fluff-for-brains, c'mere, I want to cuddle.'"

[from_scratch]

"Mary Sue darling, let's go put an aquifer in Limbo. Yes. Perfect."

[ask_nicely]

"There is no way that can go wrong. Ever. Not even once."