[Open] I've been around for a long, long year -- stole many a man's soul and faith.

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley was not happy in the slightest.

First that bloody angel had to go back on their deal, and then he had to nick off with the blood - rendering the spell useless. Then the stupid feather ball had to go and open up Purgatory all by himself an consume every single last soul that was in there. Bloody angels. Well, he certainly wasn't going to

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[enjoythe_ride]

" ... the files you sent me last ... "

Bela wasn't in Grant Park two seconds ago. Bela was in the Crowbar two seconds ago, talking to John. John, her guardian, who she wouldn't put it past to be positively molting at this point.

She always warned him that she wouldn't be the easiest ward. He should have listened. Not that he could have -- this, whatever it is, between them isn't something that he can just turn off. But she can at least try and make it seem like she cares about his well being. Mostly because she actually does.

This still leaves the mystery of how she is still in a toga, still shackled, and suddenly materializing in Grant Park. She starts to look around, confused, and then her eyes land on a very familiar face. In fact, it's the last face on Earth that she ever wants to see in Chicago, second to only Lilith.

But look how well that went.

"Oh, bloody hell, not you."

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley looks up at a very familiar voice. He finds himself instantly smirking despite his confusion about the whole situation.

Oh, well isn't this a pleasant surprise.

He remembers Bela well. Not only did she give him the Colt, but he also saw her a few times in Hell. Most being tortured. A lot. It was all good fun. It was a deal that intrigued him. Lilith rarely made deals personally, you see. She must've had a soft spot for little girls wanting to kill their own parents.

"Bela Talbot," he says with a smirk before adding, "Abby,"

He tilts his head to the side, eyebrows raised. She's also wearing a toga, how curious. "Correct me if I'm wrong, darling, but you should be downstairs,"

[enjoythe_ride]

That adds some context. He's at least after her death and not before it. She doesn't want to know what fresh horrors he could come up with here, however, and she certainly doesn't want him to think that she's a mistake who should be corrected.

"Call me that again, and you'll find yourself missing your best friend." And that isn't a threat, Crowley. That's a promise. She will shoot it off. The narration suspects it's probably not the first time she's done it.

Unfortunately.

She crosses her arms in front of herself, trying to fend off the cold as best she can, before continuing. "That would be true -- if this were our universe. Here -- I get to go on living, free and clear."

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley pouts at her, he's not even bothered in the slightest by it. "Touchy, touchy," he says and then chuckles, let the trolling begin, "And I think you'll find Growly's not around right now, so good luck trying to find him," His best friend's his pup, Bela, not his dick. Eesh. "Although saying that, he might be around soon," he adds with a wicked grin.

"Another universe?" he asks and stops to pause for a moment. Well, that would explain not being able to reach Hell. If he's somewhere else entirely... there might not even be a Hell here. Now that is a awful thought. "Hmm,"

But he simply cannot have her going around thinking her debt's cleared. Oh, no. Not at all.

"Or, so you think," he says with a shrug, still smirking, "A debt's a debt, darling. Doesn't matter where you are, you have to pay. Don't think that jumping into another universe means you'll escape the debt collectors,"

He doesn't even know how he'd get her soul. Or access to Hell. But she doesn't need to know that.

[enjoythe_ride]

This is something that's glaringly apparent to Bela. She knows that if she ever manages to find her way back home, she could just wind up falling right back into Hell again. It's something she tries not to think about, especially with everything else she has going on, but it's not something that's slipped her mind.

Her hands come up at that, rattling the shackles on her arms for a moment, before continuing to fix him with a look. "Believe me. I'm aware. But timelines are a funny thing. If I'm already paid in full at your point in the timeline, I hardly think that my debt here is going to be of any concern to you. Besides -- Lilith holds my contract. Not you."

Or, at least she believes that. Please let her keep believing that, Crowley.

Or ... not if that's how you roll.

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley raises his eyebrows, very amused at the whole shackles thing she's got going on. Very fitting, he believes. And as she talks, the urge to laugh is just way too much. Oh, how wrong she is.

"See, the funny thing is," he tilts his head to the side and muses on this for another moment, "Lilith's not running the show any more,"

He pauses, as if for dramatic effect, because that's how he rolls, "There's been a few changes. Under new management, sort to speak. King of Hell. I'm your boss now,"

He shrugs, shaking his head, "And to me, it looks like you're very much escaping your debt here. You might've made your deal with Lilith, she might've held your contract. But now I do,"

He points at her and then at himself. "I say your arse is mine, from now 'til the end of eternity,"

[enjoythe_ride]

That, Crowley. That makes Bela laugh.

She'd say she's sorry, but she doesn't like you very much.

"You?" she smirks when she finally catches her breath. "They made you King of Hell?"

There's a bit of a sigh as she stops laughing, bringing her hand up to her mouth in response. "They must have lost a lot of upper management to have left you in charge."

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley isn't impressed in the slightest at your laughter, Bela. Not at all. Nor does he appreciate it.

His eyes narrow a fraction at her, "I made myself King of Hell," he tells her bluntly.

Reaching for her hand, he taps the back of it gently, burning her. It certainly made the Winchesters believe him, he's sure it'll work on her. "See that?" he motions to the welt on her hand, "Now you can laugh all you want. But I assure you - I'm in charge now, capiche? The playing field might've changed, but your soul's mine."

He steps back, his face deadpan. "And I promise you I will be dragging that bony arse of yours to Hell,"

[enjoythe_ride]

She should have known better than to laugh at him in the first place, but she couldn't help herself. The idea of Crowley being in charge of anything Hell-related is laughable, really, given who he was. She also should have backed away the moment he reached for her, but she didn't and before she could protest, the searing pain was running through her hand

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley smirks at her at the broad range of swear words, he's heard something similar from her in Hell. Well, whatever's thrown in between the screaming and pleading. And then when she dares him, he raises his eyebrows

[enjoythe_ride]

"I don't belong to anyone."

Her voice is low and angry, and she's suddenly cursing the Rift far more than she usually does. "This is a brave new world, Crowley. Let's see how well you do when you see what the Rift has to offer."

She hopes it eats him. Or sends him into the mouth of a volcano. Or something equally poetic.

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley just laugh at her at that. It's touching really. She'll see, she really will. Besides, what else is he going to do with his time? Terrorizing people is what he likes to do.

"Oh, I assure you. I'll be doing just fine," he tells her. "Which can't be said for you, I'm afraid,"

The only eating that'll be happening will be when the Hellhounds get here and find her.

[lefttogive]

John's been looking for Bela.

The link between them makes it easier than it would be otherwise. The moment he felt the pain in his hand, he knew the pain itself was not his. It was hers, and the guardian instincts kicked in, and they kicked in hard. He would be unable to do anything but look for her, find her, and make sure nothing is happening to her.

It's not promising, what he stumbles onto, and his expression and his gaze hardens immediately. He has no idea who Crowley is, and he doesn't quite give a rat's ass about it, either.

He moves to stand beside his ward. "Is there a problem here?"

[enjoythe_ride]

Bela's eyes don't leave Crowley's and she takes a step back towards John, wanting to get away for this situation as soon as possible.

"No. Not a problem. I was just leaving."

Not that she's solved the problem of how she got here the moment Crowley arrived yet, but that doesn't matter, she's leaving. She doesn't want to be here anymore -- if she has to spend any more time with Crowley, she might be sick.

[mrkingofhell]

Crowley regards the newcomer with a slight frown. The sentiment is quite the same, John. He's bothered about Bela here, not you. But the fact it's someone who Bela knows means things'll be interesting.

That and the fact he's a bit of a nosy bastard.

"Nothing that you need to worry about, pretty boy," He raises an eyebrow at Bela and before smirking slightly, "And you are, anyway? Bela's not the most well-mannered of folk, y'see,"

Sorry, but you're not really going anywhere Bela. Crowley isn't sure how it works out either, but you're staying whether you like it or not.

[lefttogive]

John doesn't regard Crowley at all.

In fact, he barely gives him a passing glance, and the pretty boy comment receives barely, if any reaction. Inwardly, the concern is rampant, mostly because he can feel that Bela might get sick at any moment the longer she stays here, and he doesn't know why.

"I'm John, and not really one for the shaking hands and pleasantry bullshit. You'll find her manners and my manners get along splendidly. She clearly doesn't want you around, so why don't you leave her alone?"

Not that Bela can't fight her own battles, and he knows this, but... guardian.