Mainland, Saturday Morning
It had not taken long to reach the first destination in their journey. This only held true because there was no protocol to follow here, no set way to reach this place. This place, that seemed just as ordinary as the warehouses that held the Lilim in Exile.
It was always interesting to see how easily the older gods and creatures blended into modern life, surrounded by humanity and remaining completely undetected by them. At least, to Lucifer it was.
It was a large skyscraper in the middle of the downtown district of a city that was nearly indistinguishable from any other modern city in the country. Nothing in particular set it apart, no landmarks, no identifying buildings. The building itself was all perfectly average and utterly forgettable once you had looked away. So, of course, this is where Lucifer brought them to gain a guide and path to these voiceless gods.
The receptionist had sent them up to see the boss as soon as they entered the lobby. It was nice to not have to announce his presence to gain the respect fitting of his station.
A man met them once they exited the elevator, looking tired and strained. "Lord Morningstar, Dr. Wilson, please, join me for breakfast."
For all that he felt as if he had seen so much, something about the tired looking being offering them breakfast told Wilson that there was still worlds beyond worlds left yet for him to discover, just here in his backyard.
Falling one step behind Lucifer, Wilson politely folded his hands behind his back and held his tongue for the moment. He couldn't say that he was particularly hungry but he was willing to obediently follow the Lightbringer's lead. At least for the time being.
Lucifer bowed his head politely, a fixed and pleasant smile on his face. Though, it was clearly not meant as anything more than a simple polite gesture.
Interactions such as these did have their own set of rules.
"Thank you Pharamond, we would be delighted."
The man, Pharamond as he was called, turned to lead them into his office. An office that once inside, was nothing like one found in your average business. In the room lay the vast expanse of a desert, only a small table filled with breakfast foods and a rather interesting fountain marred the perfectly smooth and empty surface.
"I beg your pardon Lord Lucifer, I don't usually take breakfast in the office, but tonight I have not been home."
Were the circumstances other than what they were, Wilson might have considered being amused by the Lord title being applied to Lucifer's name. But after the encounter at the warehouse he was more than willing to let the chance to needle slide in exchange for proper diffidence being shown towards the Lightbringer and by extension, hopefully the harmless little mortal in his shadow.
Sometimes, Wilson really missed the true menaces of life. Like Vogler.
Lucifer nodded, placing a hand on the small of Wilson's back to guide him to one of the seats at the table. A small, possessive gesture meant for Pharamond's eyes. It would be an annoyance to have to deal with any territorial matters. "No pardon is needed, Pharamond. Your hospitality is, as always, impeccable."
Ever the perfect host, Pharamond did not bat an eye, instead standing at the head of the table as he wait for his guests to be seated first. "Farrell, Lord. In this place, these days, I am called Farrell," He replied. "And you Lord Lucifer, what name do you go by these days?"
In his head, Wilson recognized the gesture for the unspoken boundary it was, he was getting savvy enough to the ways of this strange sort of court to understand his role as pawn within but that didn't keep Wilson from also drawing a bit of emotional stability from the touch, caught as he was in a game way above his head.
Taking a seat the mortal set his hands lightly on the table, fingers linked loosely together as he listened to the exchange between his host and his lover. At this point, he could only figure that knowledge was about the only advantage he could hope to gain in this situation and that meant it was important to shut up and listen.
"I honestly don't care," Lucifer replied, taking a seat once Wilson had done so. "Not 'Lord' though. It's anachronistic."
Pharamond-- Farrell, followed suit as well, pouring himself a cup of tea when he was seated. "Yes, I had heard about that." He sighed, sounding much, much older than he appeared. "Changes in ancient order depress me more as I grow more ancient myself."
He held up the kettle, smiling nicely at Wilson. "Tea?"
"Please," Wilson said in a polite tone. He figured it was at least good manners to accept what your host offered.
As Farrell poured Wilson a cup of tea, Lucifer looked off at the fountain, deciding this was enough idle chitchat before getting into the business at hand. "We need a passage and a guide to the first world, Pharamond. How soon can this be arranged?"
Farrell chuckled, setting the kettle down and pouring a bit of milk into his own cup. "You ask how soon. Even in normal times I would find this a difficult question to answer. You understand, my friend." His teacup clinked from the spoon hitting the sides as he stirred the tea. A terribly mundane action for their conversation. "...such journeys are always at least part Shamanistic. It's hard therefore to assure success, or even survival."
The mortal had been such a good boy up to this point but at Farrell's words, he couldn't quite contain a small snort.
"Wouldn't be a vacation worth packing for if there wasn't the high probability of death."
Lucifer ignored the amused look Farrell shot Wilson. He should have known the man would have found him to be quite an interesting companion.
"I didn't ask for guarantees," Lucifer reminded him.
"True," Farrell admitted, turning his attention away from the mortal and back to his tea. "But then the subject of payment becomes problematic. The situation is not propitious, and the arrangements involved..."
Without a pause, Lucifer placed a small bag on the table, pushing if over toward Pharamond. "Two hundred and forty copper aes, collected the usual way. You may count them, though to do so will limit their usefulness."
Farrell took the bag, placing it aside before giving Lucifer a mildly hurt look. All for show, of course. Part of the little social play. "There is trust between us, Morningstar. I don't need to count them."
With the payment taken care of, he turned his attention to Wilson. "You are Jewish, are you not, Dr. Wilson?"
Surprised to be directly addressed, Wilson quirked an eyebrow and with a quick glance towards Lucifer, answered honestly.
"Not practicing but yes, my ancestors are Jewish."
Lucifer ignored his look, calmly answering for the mortal. "His family are descendants of the Tribe of Manasseh, children of Joseph. Why do you ask?"
"You can go to Hauran then," Pharamond replied, a serene smile on his face as he spoke. Always nice to have it come easily. And for such a lovely payment. [[OOC: NFB or interaction due to distance, pre-play with the awesome dr_jwilsonmd]]