Scions of Ragnarok

[kishiseta]

(what the heck? it didn't send??? >.<)

Ria blinked at his statement. Screw other people for their own gain? None of the Irish gods were so selfish. Not in any of the cycles, or even the Morrigan, when she met her mother in person. Or perhaps, that was the characteristic of the Roman Pantheon. Of course, being a god has its responsibilities, and liekly, they had no idea what the gods were going through. There must be some reason for the gods' actions. She was about to say so, but he spoke again.

"Well, we are charged to take it back. What if we have it? What then? We can't just let it stay here or wherever we are. Besides can we even keep it once we've found it?" Ria was a bit sad that he looked at her the way he did, but she had no choice but to prove him wrong by showing it. She did worry for him whether he wanted to or not--or whether she wanted to or not. It was just not in her not to care as a rule. Not especially that she knew she might need him one day, too.

[Blue Demon]

[[It's okay. You got it now.]]

Van looked at the girl and shrugged. "Whatever." He rubbed at his eyes. "Lets just do this. I've gotten snipped at enough today. I think I filled up my quota." He dropped his chair back onto all four legs, reached over and grabbed a book at random. He looked at the title and sighed. It was going to be a long night. Then again, he could go back to his room and grab his laptop. Book research was not his forte. He dropped the book back onto the table.

"I'll go get my laptop and do that. Better than looking at old dusty books all night." Without waiting for he answer he stood up and left. He pulled out the key card that he had claimed all those hours ago back in the lobby. Or was it only one? Seemed a little like yesterday. He looked at the room number and made his way there. The card worked it's magic and he was in. The room wasn't that bad for all that Pan had tried to make it out to be. There were two rooms, the first he checked obviously had the girl's stuff. The second was his. His duffle bag was placed neatly on his bed.

He looked down at the bed and debated for a long while about just staying there. He laid down on it with a sigh. Why did he always get into these sort of messes? Granted, this mess was messier than his usually messes, but it was the general idea of the thought. Right?

[kishiseta]

Ria frowned at her partner's leaving. Well at least, he was sensible enough to bring a laptop. She didn't, only because she didn't know she had to use it or anything. Sighing, she slumped back in her seat and waited until she fell asleep. She had tried to fight it but jetlag was hell. Soon, she woke up and it was nighttime already. She yawned, clearing the drowsiness from her system annoyed that her partner didn't get back to her.

Pissed, she walked out of the room and bumped into Pan. "Oh, hi there, sweetling," he said with his eternal lascivious grin plastered on his face. "You have another message from your mother. Something is stirring underground and they're not liking it. She wants you to go and have a look."

Ria's eyes widened. They haven't even figured out how to find the blasted underworld dog and now, she had to check out something that's going on underground? Wow! She better be paid a lot for this! As if reading her mind, Pan flashed her a credit card. A Chase Sapphire card. Her eyes bulged.

"Never shall it be said that the gods are poor." Pan grinned. "Now off you go little lass. I best needs give your partner his." Without another word, he left to find Van, opening the door to his room as if he owned the place...which he truly did, in any case. "Ah, lad. Need to purchase anything?" He threw the credit card on his lap. Do what you want with it. I do, however, encourage you to try our casino. It simply is exciting."

[Blue Demon]

Van had fully intended to go back to where the girl was. He was just going to lay on the bed for a second or two, then get back up. However a second or two turned into three and four and then into minutes. Soon enough his eyes had flickered shut and he fell asleep. He hadn't been sleeping well the past few days. Not since Mercury showed up. Since then the stress had been mounting and Van had worried about what was going to happen to him. Even now, he still wasn't sure what was going to happen.

When Van woke up, he awoke with a start. He sat up quickly and looked around. Right. Vegas. Gods and Crap. He groaned and rubbed his eyes. What the hell had he gotten himself into? He looked over at the laptop, flipped it opened and powered it on. He didn't bother checking the time, whatever it was, it was too late to go back to where the girl was. If he did that, all that would happen was that he'd he dressed down. That was one thing he didn't like about girls. They always wanted him to be on time and let them know about every single little move me made. It was also why Van typically had one night stands and got a reputation of being a player.

Van pulled up the internet and searched about Greek Gods and the underworld. He also did a secondary search about Roman Gods, mainly Mercury. His tertiary search centered completely on Pan. He had been so engrossed in his task that he hadn't heard Pan enter his room. Not until the God spoke and tossed something onto Van's lap.

Van cursed and jumped as the card landed on the laptop. Van looked up and glared at the nature God. "What the hell was that?" He groused to himself. "Why are you in my room? Ever heard of privacy?" He snipped over his laptop. If the God had been mortal he might have physically removed him. However he wasn't, so he stayed behind his laptop. He wasn't stupid.

He looked at the card and put together what Pan had said. "Thanks." He muttered. Might as well play nice to the God that might kill him on a whim. "Have you left yet?" Then again, sometimes he didn't like playing nice. "I'm busy doing your dirty work. If you don't have anything else...." Van left the end of the sentence unsaid. He didn't think Pan would take a blatant 'Get Out' too nicely.

[kishiseta]

Pan let the boy's comment slide with a mischievous grin. Van was an unruly boy, incomparable to the underground gangs and bigwig moguls that thought him a fly to be swatted. They learned the hard way--his little puppets--controlling the whole of Las Vegas, but only for as long as he permitted them to. And this boy was not even a true demigod yet! What was Mercury thinking delaying unlocking his son's gifts? If his stupid...no! He won't call Mercury his own father. The god was a plague in his life. A creator to be replaced. That was all Mercury was to him. "Tut, tut...this is my hotel after all, and you have not signed or paid for your room if I remember correctly."

"Looks like you're not truly grateful for my gift." Pan gave a mock disappointed sigh. "A man like you can never hope to even be considered for a card like that. Perhaps, I should take it back and let you beg for your food?" A few moments of silence before he laughed aloud. "My dear Van, for once, I truly wonder if either you or your partner will survive your first challenge. And believe me, I've seen countless gods-to-be pass by here...before they were either killed after a few challenges or moved on." He saluted him and began closing the door before he stopped and opened it again. "Just so you know, you're alone in the hotel now. Maybe you'll be alone forever, huh?" Without much else, he closed the door and disappeared.

Meanwhile, in the sewers of Las Vegas, the rank smell of rat piss and rotting flesh was getting to Ria. The deeper she ventured in, the more she saw decaying bodies of persons long dead and new corpses. Truly, there was much more to the Sin City than meets the eye. If dead bodies went unreported under the city sewers, how much more were there in the unpopulated desert where there were reports of dead persons? She didn't even want to think about it! The poor souls...

She stopped. Suddenly, there were no longer dead bodies but the rank smell got stronger, she almost vomited. Even stranger was that there was a breeze. Inside a rank, damp, cold, dreary, slimy, dark and deep underground where she already felt like she was suffocating! Calling out her gae bolga, she took a deep breath--and heaved--before making her way deeper as the breeze and the stench got stronger.

[Blue Demon]

Van looked down at the little card as Pan left. He chucked it across the room and fumed. The arrogant god. What the crap was that steaming pile about being alone and dying? Van moved his laptop off his lap and got up to pace about the room. He clenched his hands into fists to stop them from shaking, in a mixture of fear and anger. He hated Pan and Mercury very much. He raked his hands through his hair and forced himself to take deep breaths.

Van stopped in front of the credit card. He stooped over to pick it up and stared at it. The blue card twinkled. Van debated whether or not he wanted it, but since he was already in the God's debt, he pocketed it. In some ways, Pan was right. He needed his father to unlock his powers or he might not make it. He looked around at the room then grabbed a small case out of his bag.

According to his research the underworld had a few 'classical' entrances in Greece and Turkey, but those wouldn't be much use to him. No, what he had found useful was the fact that the greek counterpart of Mercury, Hermes, escorted the dead to the river Styx. His blasted father knew how to get into the underworld. Van left the room making sure it locked behind him. He was going to have a little chat with father dearest and make him unlock his powers and he could get himself to the underworld. After that he'd be free to choose his own destiny and not be some bloody puppet for the Gods.

Van slowed as he neared the exit of the hotel. He was hesitant as he tried the door. It opened. Van sighed in relief and walked out into the heat of the afternoon. He briefly wondered where the girl went, but his mind was on other things to give it much thought. He wandered aimlessly down a street, not really sure where he was going.

[kishiseta]

Apparently, the breeze of stench wasn't a breeze, but rather a large Nordic lindwurm being fed by the underground goons who so surreptitiously buried their dead in the sewers. The only reason she was able to recognize it was because the Nords and Tuatha were inextricably linked. The cramped space was not exactly the best place to fight in. She always faced its mouth and she wasn't exactly carrying a small weapon to slip in and deal much damage. No. In order to defeat the creature, she had to lure it out.

Although that was proving to be no easy task as the lindwurm thrashed and broke the sewer systems...which made dodging it and the debris together even more daunting. In the end, she resolved to anger it enough and break through its depths. And when it did, they appeared at the Wynn Golf club startling the few people who were there.

Ria didn't see them. All she saw was the opportunity to strike. And so did the lindwurm. The creature was more lithe and agile than she thought parrying her attacks and never giving her any rest from his. She slashed at his belly, it knocked her off about a hundred paces from where she was. It sought to snap her head off, she dodged it and landed a blow on its chin. More than anything, what they were managing to do was wear themselves out as spectators were suddenly gathering around, thinking it was another one of those Vegas sights. And did the people enjoy their little show!

"This can't go on like this!" Ria growled as the people cheered for her. She was using every bit of what The Morrigan gave her, but it wasn't enough. She was still too young and her powers had not grown. At least it was a good thing Van was not here or she would have to watch out for him too. This was definitely something that no mortal could handle.

With another cry, she launched herself back at the beast, resuming their fight.