Scions of Ragnarok

[kishiseta]

Ria balked as he walked away and growled heading to the business center by herself to look up anything she could on cerberus. If he wasn't going to help, then she was going to do it on her own. It might be difficult alone, but she could do it somehow. She was a demigoddess. Someone who's beyond a person. She'd bring back cerberus with or without him--or she'd die trying. Godhood might not be appealing to Van, but it was the only thing Ria wanted to be, since it didn't seem like she was going to be anyone else.

Pan watched Van head out and he made a few calls. Soon, the manager stopped Van from getting anywhere else. "Mr. Oleander, I'm afraid there's a shutdown going on right now," he said. "I have information that you would not be able to leave. Please, settle down and stay. It might not look like it, but you will not be able to leave. You can try, but you will only return. I am only here to advise you and save you from too much trouble."

Pan looked down and grinned. He needed to know how much he can use the boy. If he could prove himself and fan his hatred for Mercury, then he would be an asset to their goal of destroying the gods and ending the world. He would watch him closely for that--and watch for the girl as well. He could not have her change his mind. If she did, he would lose another arsenal against the gods. Hermes might think he has him under his thumb now, but he was just biding time. He would rise and Mercury would be the first he'd destroy.

[Blue Demon]

Van was almost there. Then another man in a suit stepped out in front of him. Van paused.

"Mr. Oleander, I'm afraid there's a shutdown going on right now," he said. "I have information that you would not be able to leave. Please, settle down and stay. It might not look like it, but you will not be able to leave. You can try, but you will only return. I am only here to advise you and save you from too much trouble."

"I don't believe you." Van said. "This is Bull."

A shutdown? What in the world was that? Van brushed past the man. He couldn't leave? He'd walk right out of this crappy hotel and go home. Van pressed against one of the glass doors to the outside. It didn't budge. Van tried another door and another. None of them worked. He swore loudly. A few people looked at him. He ignored them and kicked the door. They weren't going to keep him here.

Van swore again loudly as the door did nothing but rattle in its frame. He heard voices from behind him and he turned.

[kishiseta]

Behind him the manager and Pan were talking. The manager had a look of boredom seeing many others try and deny Pan his wishes, not knowing who he was. He looked at his silver Rolex then up at his boss, counting down the seconds where Van would take drastic measures. Of course, it would be up to Pan whether or not he would let the man go wild. All it took was a twitch at the corner of Pan's lips and manager knew what he should do.

The manager turned to two burly security personnel who were large of frame and tall, wearing formal coat and ties paired with sunglasses and an earpiece. "Take him to the office before he makes a scene."

As strange as the goings on were, the manager didn't want any ruckus in the Excalibur. While there weren't many people up and about because it was daytime, he had to keep the premises pristine and quiet enough for the guests. The security personnel approached Van a little wary, knowing what they were up against. If their manager talked to his boss directly, then it was a supernatural matter that needed to be handled delicately. They, themselves were bestowed with the power to corrupt others with their words. They didn't quite know what Van, who seemed only a man, could do.

"Please come with us. We are sure there is something you need to discuss with our boss," one of them said, his stern voice belied the physical power that he had. He was still careful, though as Van was still a wildcard to them.

[Blue Demon]

Van watch two men walk up to him. They watched him carefully. Like he was rabid or something. But then again, he had been just attacking the doors. So not that he could blame them too much. Chances were they thought him mad. Which would be a preferable option then his current status as a demigod.

"Please come with us. We are sure there is something you need to discuss with our boss."

Van's eyes flicked to the man who spoke. He eyed them up and down. Then sighed. They were both bigger than him. He didn't stand a chance in a physical confrontation. If they were as dumb as they looked, maybe in an intellectual battle, but he wasn't the smarted kid in his class. His black eyes narrowed. He waited a few more seconds then nodded his head.

"I guess maybe I do." He took a small step towards them to see what they would do. If they touched him, he'd fight them, inevitable loss or no. He'd fight and he'd make it hurt as much as he could. Make them remember him.

[kishiseta]

Pan waited in the room as Van was escorted to him, then leaving them alone together. The room was nothing but pristine white and glass with chromed metallic accents here and there. To Pan, there was a reason the room was white. It wasn't because white was pure. No. It was because white was a blank slate you can always smear something into. Much like young children of the gods. Twist them the right way and you can corrupt them to their very bones. The white completely disappearing. Just like him.

He grinned at the boy when he came. "Oh, I thought you were leaving." He opened a crystal bottle and poured brandy on two glasses handing one to him. "Ah, but yes, I forgot to mention one tiny detail when your father visited you: Once they visit you you have three choices, follow them, rebel or kill yourself. If you choose to live, you will impact the world greatly whether you like it or not. Why? Because while you're but a scion now, you're still a god and gods have tremendous impact on the world. Ah, and your father said that he did forget to unlock your gifts. I reckon you should receive them soon. Should you choose not to kill yourself."

Mercury. Messenger. At one point or another the prankster of a god had spawned another soon-to-be messenger. That would help tip the balance a bit in their favor. The girl though...she was a tricky one. How to corrupt her...?

[Blue Demon]

Van was showed to a whitewashed room with metal chairs and table. He didn't like the room. It was like an interrogation room the police used on T.V. Add that onto the fact he was suddenly very claustrophobic being left in this room with Pan. He watched the God pour alcohol into two different glasses. He didn't sit, but rather listened as the other spoke.

Van frowned at the terse speech. Did he trust this God? No. Not as far as he could throw him. But just because someone isn't a good person didn't mean they didn't speak the truth, or a version thereof. So his choices were death or servitude to Pan. Not nice choices either way.

"How do I unlock those gifts?" Van quarried finally taking a seat. He believed a lot of what the other just told him. It matched up with his own limited knowledge on the subject. "And why should I?" He reached out for the glass in front of him and swirled the amber liquid around.

[kishiseta]

Pan was surprised Mercury had not told him anything. But that could work more to his advantage. He took a sip of his brandy and put it on the glass table. "Of course, if you don't unlock them, my dear boy, you will die." He let out a little chortle. "I am quite used to gods not revealing what their children are going to be up against, so they would not be too frightened, but I guess it's about time you know: you will be dealing with titanspawn, supernatural creatures and things that no mere mortal can come up against. Hah! If that were possible, they would be calling people to their cause and quit siring bastards as a goal instead of just enjoying sex with idiotic mortals. And you don't unlock your gifts. Your father will be the one to do it."

He walked around the room, his feet padding soundlessly on the floor. "I reckon it will be along the lines of his godhood. Something he can do only, of course. Unless, another god has a vested interest in you and gives you more gifts..." He smirked at the man. "Although I highly doubt they would invest in such a rebellious demigod like you. But of course, rebelliousness doesn't stop me. What if I give you a gift? Would you like that?"

[Blue Demon]

Van looked up from the drink in surprise. "Die?" He was flabbergasted. If he failed to get his gifts unlocked, no, if his father failed to unlock them he'd die. That didn't make much sense. His father said if he didn't come here, he'd die. But why would he bother telling Van that if he was just going to let him die. Something wasn't adding up. When Pan added that he'd give him different gifts, Van got the message. He frowned back into the liquid. He had been thinking about drinking it, now however.

Van leaned back and studied Pan. "So, we are supposed to fight Titanspawn? Aren't the Titans the old gods? According to myth, they're evil, but I assume that's all about perspective isn't it?" Van brought the glass to his lips and took a sip. "What's your angle? You give me some sort of gift, make me indebted to you and send me off to fight these monsters?" Van clunked the glass onto the table. "Sounds like bullshit to me. I'm leaving if you don't stop messing with me."

Van stood up and made to leave the room.

[kishiseta]

Pan laughed. "Me? No. No, I will not send you to fight titanspawn. Oh, the chaos that will make...but a very viable plan." He sat down and swirled his glass around. "I'm only a minor god, of course, but I will soon change that. If you accept my gifts right after Mercury has unlocked your powers, I will have to ask you to work alongside the Titans. It's an easier task since you will not fight any of the gods themselves. The titans would want to reserve that honor for themselves. I will also give you followers, of course. Chimerae. Very expendable since we make them. If you need more, I can give them to you. But of course, I don't want you sending them to needless deaths."

Pan was laying it out on the table for him. The gods already knew he was not on their side, but they needed access to Vegas and so they needed Pan. And the only reason Pan allowed them was because he would survive their wrath. It was a give and take relationship on thin ice. And Pan was all too happy to play the middle ground. One thing was sure, though: he hated the gods more than he hated everything else than he hated altogether. And that was enough reason to work against them.

[Blue Demon]

Van took another sip of the brandy, feeling like he needed it now. He still had to have his father's help. No matter which option he would choose. That wasn't sitting well with him. If Pan had given him an out, he probably would have taken it. As it stood, no, was probably not an option. But yes, didn't seem viable either. No, he wasn't suddenly attached to the Gods. No, he wasn't having moral issues. He just didn't want to make this sort of decision. He liked his life was it was. Not how it is.

"So, I still need my 'father' to help me. Is that right?" Van thunked the half empty glass on the table. The amber contents sloshed out a little. He was beginning to get angry, at Mercury, at Pan, at anyone. "How do I do that?" He'd get Mercury to give him these gifts and then go from there. Maybe he would go back to Pan, even though he was an arrogant git. Pan did seem to be honest. But all things considered, he just really wanted to go home.

"And do I have to find Hades' dog too? What kind of crap assignment is that?" Van complained. His life was going to hell in a handbasket, maybe not the best place to end up if he didn't find the stupid dog either.