"None will remain!" He released Alastor's hand only to hike himself upon the bar completely, scoot himself forward. He could have leaned as well, but damn it, when everyone was a thousand feet tall he had to make do...!
"They will be crushed in your name, a final death for the insult! And at the end of the day, when all is quiet and you've endured the way your body betrays you... you will have a much-needed little snack." How dare this Sinner be so cute, chin in hand like this? He reached for and framed his face with both hands, gently angled it up.
"I'll bring you a silver platter, a selection of your would-be suitor's hearts. Little would they know they would get what they desired: Being near you... just not in the way that they'd hoped~"
Oh, the theatrics of it all! It made Alastor's shriveled old heart putter happily. His pallid tone warmed with a blush as he nuzzled into Lucifer's hands, ears relaxing backwards as he leaned into the affections.
"All of those desperate fools wanting to be inside me, and only you would get that wish in the way they'd even hoped~" Alastor crooned, resting a hand over one of the ones on his cheeks.
He couldn't mask the way his breath quietly caught, the small swallow if he tried. Talk like that just does things to a guy.
He tipped his head and brushed his lips against a corner of that ever-present grin. "...If that is your wish when the time comes, then I'd be happy to soothe your ache, cher..."
Oh, he'd have it no other way, Lucifer... though he does lightly chuckle. "Though if it's a rut? Hoh, hoh. I hope you're quite ready to be hunted down like prey~"
He snorted a bit. "Heh- I think I've been compared to food enough that I can handle a little hunting. Though, you'll be alright compared to heat, huh? Fewer weirdos if you're the one pursuing, as you're the one shooting your shot."
"Eugh, well. That scans." Aw, don't make that face. That's a double-smooch, one for each cheek.
"So, what, same strategy then? I suppose this building being pretty far from the rest of the city works in favor- you could see them coming up the hill... Hmmm."
It's placating at least! "I go as deep into my bayou as possible, as far from any electronics as possible, and wait until my body ceases its feral screaming urge to make fawns. Such is my penance for my Sins, I suppose."
He gave one last stroke against his hairline before his hands withdrew. He went for the old criss-cross applesauce on the bar top and eased his elbows against his knees.
"Weeell, don't cease any feral screaming urges on my account." He gave Alastor a nudge.
But as he idled, he reached down to the countertop, he tapped three claws against the surface. In their wake were tiny golden lights that shaped into tiny bouncing fawns chasing each other. One tripped, all legs, but quickly stood and shook off. It had meant to do that.
"...You'd make some fluffy little monsters, though."
Alastor snorted a little in amusement, swirling his glass and taking a cooling sip of his drink as he watched the charming little golden figures frolicking about.
"Oh, I'm sure you'd like that," he hummed in amusement over the rim. "Having a fawn to call your own, foisted on you. Why, Charlie would hang my antlers, I'm sure."
He absently wound his arms around his middle. "I- that's-"
But he narrowed his eyes, and raised a finger at him. "Wait, 'foisted'? You said 'foisted'. Don't gimme that 'I'm not worth it' bullshit, we've been over this."
If Alastor were more transparent, he'd probably wheeze the way Lucifer always does. Instead, he just laughs - that sort of high strung laugh he gives when he's either covering an emotion or watching Niffty put on a roach puppet show.
Seeing Lucifer's arms curl around himself, though, that's...
"Honestly! I may have learned a bit of midwifery in my living years, but this isn't the sort of soothing face a child could find comfort in!"
What a question. He doesn't have an answer - for a moment, he folds his hands in thought, tapping his thumbs together. Hmm.
"Mother would talk about seeing a grand-baby. But it never came to mind, not really - not since I followed a man locked out of his home by his wife and slit his throat."
Because in what world could a serial killer and cannibal be a good parent? Hell was different, but a Sinner's curse took it off the table in a different way.
"Or if you mean if I'd considered taking in a little Hellborn. No, I'm afraid I never did - the little creatures would have only ended up slaughtered by my envious rivals. Taking in orphans is far more Rosie's business, since she's far more established."
The repeat had him squirm a bit in his seat, realizing that maybe it was a really personal question, something to laugh off. But when Alastor answered, truly answered rather than brushing it off, Lucifer stared at him in momentary surprise.
Soon he had taken his own glass with his tail and returned it to hand. The man locked out... was that his first victim, the beginning of a chain of choices that led him down here? And where was his mother, anyway?
He nodded against the rim of his glass with talk of rivals. "Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense."
Drumming his fingers against the crystal, he hitched his shoulders. "I worried about that, too. But Lily was... so sure. She always had it together, thrived as a ruler of Hell and the responsibilities. Did people try to make attempts against Charlie? Oh yeah. Definitely. There's always a Sinner or an Overlord making plans to whack me or her."
He shut his eyes tight, feeling a mote of misery in his heart. "But I don't regret her, or the decision made to have her. But I wish I was able to be there throughout all parts of her life where she must have needed me, rather than only recently."
She must have needed him at some point, right? But most times, all he could think of and wonder was if Lilith had ever told Charlie anything that... that made it harder to do so.
Lucifer shook his head to clear it and drained his glass, let the bourbon burn as he 'chewed' it before swallowing it down.
"...I suppose my point is that, even if there's that risk... parenthood's never been a safe and tidy bubble for anybody anyway. If a fuck-up like me can have that... that amazing, funny ball of starshine in my wretched life, then..."
It's no surprise that Lucifer had such regrets. When Alastor first saw him, first saw that obnoxious bone-crushing hug he gave Charlie... well, that made it clear as crystal.
"When you first set foot in the Hotel, I saw a man who had been completely absent thinking he could just stroll in and take charge as if nothing had changed. The bloviating and pride irked me. I've always detested men thinking they can simply wander into a room and take ownership of a home that isn't theirs."
He was there first. He put the work in. This man with his blood claim didn't deserve to win Charlie and the Hotel over.
He never liked the men that came into the home he shared with his mother, either.
"Of course, now that Charlie's stood up for herself and you properly listen, not treating her as if she were still an infant, you've become the sort of father actually worthy of the title. You're quite welcome for the push, by the by." Alastor flashed a sly little grin. "...I suppose if you were inclined to try your hand at parenting without someone obstructing you, I could assist."
"Iiiii... kinda played things by my own ear, yeah. I mostly had fireworks in my brain from just... being invited. She'd never done that before."
Even with his pride, he could (quietly) admit that what bird-brained plan he'd slap-dashed together was exactly that: Step in, take matters into his own hands, and fix everything in the hopes that he could just make up for the lost time while being jazzed that she wanted to talk to him. Maybe she didn't hate him like he thought!! But the push-back from Alastor and the reality of Charlie's frustrations that could for the most part be hidden by a long-distance phone call had smothered what was in reality a naive little pipe dream.
To his relief at least, she didn't seem to hate him. She was deeply frustrated and disappointed, but he wasn't sure what he'd do if he'd learned that she hated him and his dark thoughts had been right all along.
It was all work in the end. Hard work. One song together wasn't a fix-all and they both knew that, but it was the long sigh of relief of understanding just what was needed: He needed to listen to her, really listen, and they could finally start over. From there, it was taking things one day at a time.
It hurt, knowing he'd never have those formative years with Charlie. It was enough that Falling and then watching Lilith leave had been massive cleavers in his heart. But he knew the whole point of... of everything... was penance for an action he would have done again and again.
Mankind didn't deserve to live in the dark.
Lucifer scoffed halfheartedly at his remark. "You trap-doored me into a pit and nearly dropped a piano on my head." A small smirk. "Dick."
But his expression fell as he rubbed the back of his neck. Alastor offering to insist was... did- did he realize what he was implying, if this truly was to be a serious conversation?
His voice lowered, uncertain. "What, like... try again?"
"You seem ready for it," Alastor answered plainly. Even if he was putting the onus on Lucifer, there was a... softness, to his own expression. A sort of quiet expression that he rarely wore with a crowd present, unless the person needed it.
...Though, something twisted in his chest. Idly, he looked away, his fingers ghosting over his own throat before tugging at his bowtie a bit. That Deal... it could be years or decades before the chain pulled taut, but it could also be mere days. A Deal that, were others to learn the truth, well...
But what if it didn't...? And what if, by ingratiating himself, Lucifer came to his aid to break the damn thing?
"...My, there I go, getting lost in thought," he chuckled, brushing the heaviness away before returning his gaze to Lucifer with an adoring smile. "Mother would have had a heart attack if she knew I were volunteering to help raise a child with the Devil himself. Hah! I'd have to assure her that she would adore you."
But as he fidgeted with his empty glass, he had that odd old feeling of jitters in the belly. Anticipation? Nerves? It was something like that hour he tortured himself with, his strive for politeness before arriving at the hotel.
A part of him was tugging at his hair inside, wondering what conversation they were seriously having right now, laughing madly into the void. He'd had none of these thoughts when he awoke this morning, and yet here he was...!!
Alastor chuckled and broke the spell, Lucifer's distant gaze sharpening as he slipped back to the right now. His face sharply stung with the momentary shame of that terrible habit he'd been trying to fight- his focus drifting off, surely frustrating people yet again- but he let the sudden flush of his face play to the topic of conversation.
"Would she, now? I think I'm a few calibers, ah, different from some random fella brought home to meet the folks. People don't exactly adore me."
"Fie. You hardly match all of the texts or the hype. She'd see how you're a silly old fuddy-duddy obsessed with rubber ducks and desperate to care for your daughter and be sold immediately."
He chuckled, softly.
"Though she'd never put up with any sass. She'd tweak the ears of men thrice her size for disrespecting her. I doubt you being the literal Devil would dissuade her."
He looked as if struck, flabbergasted, and planted fists upon his hips. "Wha- Fuddy-duddy!? Look who's talking, you Prohibition Era relic!"
But talk of tweaking ears had him glad he sort of didn't have any. Still, the threat was very there and very real. He believed this lady would kick his ass. Smart men never doubted that.
Hahah! Alastor leaned on his hands again, back to kicking his legs. "Sooo? What hellborn candidate would you scoop up to surrogate? Or would you just adopt, skip the fuss in that regard?"
Because the Sinner's curse, right? Lilith must not have quite counted as a Sinner or had that curse, herself.
"If you pick a hellhound, I'll bite you for punishment~"
Ahh, that was a story to share another day. Folk never asked!
But Lucifer momentarily looked confused with talk of surrogates. Adoption was also an option, but... had he the heart to inflict that sort of future on the child, the 'pity adoption', the 'charity case'? As his heart twisted, he made a note to make an anonymous donation later.
"Pfft- As if you need an excuse to bite me. But there's..."
Lucifer dismissed his glass. It freed his hands to fidget a bit. He was looking practically anywhere else, but kept his features neutral as he hitched his shoulders and decided to throw it all out there:
"...There's a third option. I did retain my power of... Creation. And I'm a shapeshifter."
God, why is he telling him this? This was nuts. It's weird. It's weird, isn't it, just- just volunteering things like this...
--Ah. Alastor's ears were up and alert, because-- WELL then. Did Lucifer use his magic to help create Charlie with Lilith? There's-- a lot of different thoughts all at once, but what escapes Alastor is a surprised laugh.
"Hah! Did you defy Heaven's curse of barren Sinners to create dear Charlie? Hahahah! What a triumph of defiance!"
How could one not admire something as spiteful and powerful as that??
He couldn't help breaking out into a grin, relieved. "I mean, they could only stop me from doing so many things with their decision...!"
His shoulders relaxed. "Hah! I can't take all the credit- Lily cooked up Charlie- Buuut, if she ever wanted more children, I dunno- I could have offered to take turns. How's that for dedication? ...I mean, not that it... matters anymore..."
He paused, shook his head. None of that. Lucifer snickered, hugging himself a bit. "Unholy Hell, you took that really well...!"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sugaronthecream) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
divinetree2024-04-01 08:17 am
no subject
"None will remain!" He released Alastor's hand only to hike himself upon the bar completely, scoot himself forward. He could have leaned as well, but damn it, when everyone was a thousand feet tall he had to make do...!
"They will be crushed in your name, a final death for the insult! And at the end of the day, when all is quiet and you've endured the way your body betrays you... you will have a much-needed little snack." How dare this Sinner be so cute, chin in hand like this? He reached for and framed his face with both hands, gently angled it up.
"I'll bring you a silver platter, a selection of your would-be suitor's hearts. Little would they know they would get what they desired: Being near you... just not in the way that they'd hoped~"
no subject
"All of those desperate fools wanting to be inside me, and only you would get that wish in the way they'd even hoped~" Alastor crooned, resting a hand over one of the ones on his cheeks.
no subject
He tipped his head and brushed his lips against a corner of that ever-present grin. "...If that is your wish when the time comes, then I'd be happy to soothe your ache, cher..."
no subject
no subject
no subject
"There's some that would be all too pleased to try and lure me in."
no subject
"So, what, same strategy then? I suppose this building being pretty far from the rest of the city works in favor- you could see them coming up the hill... Hmmm."
no subject
no subject
"Weeell, don't cease any feral screaming urges on my account." He gave Alastor a nudge.
But as he idled, he reached down to the countertop, he tapped three claws against the surface. In their wake were tiny golden lights that shaped into tiny bouncing fawns chasing each other. One tripped, all legs, but quickly stood and shook off. It had meant to do that.
"...You'd make some fluffy little monsters, though."
no subject
"Oh, I'm sure you'd like that," he hummed in amusement over the rim. "Having a fawn to call your own, foisted on you. Why, Charlie would hang my antlers, I'm sure."
no subject
He sat up straight. Oh. ...Oh.
He absently wound his arms around his middle. "I- that's-"
But he narrowed his eyes, and raised a finger at him. "Wait, 'foisted'? You said 'foisted'. Don't gimme that 'I'm not worth it' bullshit, we've been over this."
no subject
Seeing Lucifer's arms curl around himself, though, that's...
"Honestly! I may have learned a bit of midwifery in my living years, but this isn't the sort of soothing face a child could find comfort in!"
no subject
With a shrug, he added, "I mean, did you ever... want to?"
no subject
What a question. He doesn't have an answer - for a moment, he folds his hands in thought, tapping his thumbs together. Hmm.
"Mother would talk about seeing a grand-baby. But it never came to mind, not really - not since I followed a man locked out of his home by his wife and slit his throat."
Because in what world could a serial killer and cannibal be a good parent? Hell was different, but a Sinner's curse took it off the table in a different way.
"Or if you mean if I'd considered taking in a little Hellborn. No, I'm afraid I never did - the little creatures would have only ended up slaughtered by my envious rivals. Taking in orphans is far more Rosie's business, since she's far more established."
no subject
Soon he had taken his own glass with his tail and returned it to hand. The man locked out... was that his first victim, the beginning of a chain of choices that led him down here? And where was his mother, anyway?
He nodded against the rim of his glass with talk of rivals. "Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense."
Drumming his fingers against the crystal, he hitched his shoulders. "I worried about that, too. But Lily was... so sure. She always had it together, thrived as a ruler of Hell and the responsibilities. Did people try to make attempts against Charlie? Oh yeah. Definitely. There's always a Sinner or an Overlord making plans to whack me or her."
He shut his eyes tight, feeling a mote of misery in his heart. "But I don't regret her, or the decision made to have her. But I wish I was able to be there throughout all parts of her life where she must have needed me, rather than only recently."
She must have needed him at some point, right? But most times, all he could think of and wonder was if Lilith had ever told Charlie anything that... that made it harder to do so.
Lucifer shook his head to clear it and drained his glass, let the bourbon burn as he 'chewed' it before swallowing it down.
"...I suppose my point is that, even if there's that risk... parenthood's never been a safe and tidy bubble for anybody anyway. If a fuck-up like me can have that... that amazing, funny ball of starshine in my wretched life, then..."
no subject
"When you first set foot in the Hotel, I saw a man who had been completely absent thinking he could just stroll in and take charge as if nothing had changed. The bloviating and pride irked me. I've always detested men thinking they can simply wander into a room and take ownership of a home that isn't theirs."
He was there first. He put the work in. This man with his blood claim didn't deserve to win Charlie and the Hotel over.
He never liked the men that came into the home he shared with his mother, either.
"Of course, now that Charlie's stood up for herself and you properly listen, not treating her as if she were still an infant, you've become the sort of father actually worthy of the title. You're quite welcome for the push, by the by." Alastor flashed a sly little grin. "...I suppose if you were inclined to try your hand at parenting without someone obstructing you, I could assist."
no subject
Even with his pride, he could (quietly) admit that what bird-brained plan he'd slap-dashed together was exactly that: Step in, take matters into his own hands, and fix everything in the hopes that he could just make up for the lost time while being jazzed that she wanted to talk to him. Maybe she didn't hate him like he thought!! But the push-back from Alastor and the reality of Charlie's frustrations that could for the most part be hidden by a long-distance phone call had smothered what was in reality a naive little pipe dream.
To his relief at least, she didn't seem to hate him. She was deeply frustrated and disappointed, but he wasn't sure what he'd do if he'd learned that she hated him and his dark thoughts had been right all along.
It was all work in the end. Hard work. One song together wasn't a fix-all and they both knew that, but it was the long sigh of relief of understanding just what was needed: He needed to listen to her, really listen, and they could finally start over. From there, it was taking things one day at a time.
It hurt, knowing he'd never have those formative years with Charlie. It was enough that Falling and then watching Lilith leave had been massive cleavers in his heart. But he knew the whole point of... of everything... was penance for an action he would have done again and again.
Mankind didn't deserve to live in the dark.
Lucifer scoffed halfheartedly at his remark. "You trap-doored me into a pit and nearly dropped a piano on my head." A small smirk. "Dick."
But his expression fell as he rubbed the back of his neck. Alastor offering to insist was... did- did he realize what he was implying, if this truly was to be a serious conversation?
His voice lowered, uncertain. "What, like... try again?"
no subject
...Though, something twisted in his chest. Idly, he looked away, his fingers ghosting over his own throat before tugging at his bowtie a bit. That Deal... it could be years or decades before the chain pulled taut, but it could also be mere days. A Deal that, were others to learn the truth, well...
But what if it didn't...? And what if, by ingratiating himself, Lucifer came to his aid to break the damn thing?
"...My, there I go, getting lost in thought," he chuckled, brushing the heaviness away before returning his gaze to Lucifer with an adoring smile. "Mother would have had a heart attack if she knew I were volunteering to help raise a child with the Devil himself. Hah! I'd have to assure her that she would adore you."
no subject
But as he fidgeted with his empty glass, he had that odd old feeling of jitters in the belly. Anticipation? Nerves? It was something like that hour he tortured himself with, his strive for politeness before arriving at the hotel.
A part of him was tugging at his hair inside, wondering what conversation they were seriously having right now, laughing madly into the void. He'd had none of these thoughts when he awoke this morning, and yet here he was...!!
Alastor chuckled and broke the spell, Lucifer's distant gaze sharpening as he slipped back to the right now. His face sharply stung with the momentary shame of that terrible habit he'd been trying to fight- his focus drifting off, surely frustrating people yet again- but he let the sudden flush of his face play to the topic of conversation.
"Would she, now? I think I'm a few calibers, ah, different from some random fella brought home to meet the folks. People don't exactly adore me."
no subject
He chuckled, softly.
"Though she'd never put up with any sass. She'd tweak the ears of men thrice her size for disrespecting her. I doubt you being the literal Devil would dissuade her."
no subject
But talk of tweaking ears had him glad he sort of didn't have any. Still, the threat was very there and very real. He believed this lady would kick his ass. Smart men never doubted that.
no subject
Because the Sinner's curse, right? Lilith must not have quite counted as a Sinner or had that curse, herself.
"If you pick a hellhound, I'll bite you for punishment~"
no subject
But Lucifer momentarily looked confused with talk of surrogates. Adoption was also an option, but... had he the heart to inflict that sort of future on the child, the 'pity adoption', the 'charity case'? As his heart twisted, he made a note to make an anonymous donation later.
"Pfft- As if you need an excuse to bite me. But there's..."
Lucifer dismissed his glass. It freed his hands to fidget a bit. He was looking practically anywhere else, but kept his features neutral as he hitched his shoulders and decided to throw it all out there:
"...There's a third option. I did retain my power of... Creation. And I'm a shapeshifter."
God, why is he telling him this? This was nuts. It's weird. It's weird, isn't it, just- just volunteering things like this...
no subject
"Hah! Did you defy Heaven's curse of barren Sinners to create dear Charlie? Hahahah! What a triumph of defiance!"
How could one not admire something as spiteful and powerful as that??
no subject
His shoulders relaxed. "Hah! I can't take all the credit- Lily cooked up Charlie- Buuut, if she ever wanted more children, I dunno- I could have offered to take turns. How's that for dedication? ...I mean, not that it... matters anymore..."
He paused, shook his head. None of that. Lucifer snickered, hugging himself a bit. "Unholy Hell, you took that really well...!"
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)