I don't own any of these character and all that
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Lucifer didn't bother to stand as Alastor approached, just gave a disdained wave to the seat next to him. Alastor gave a flourishing bow before sitting, not in the indicated seat, but across from him, successfully blocking the view of the stage with a smug grin. The Devil sighed.
"You're insolence really will be the second death of you my friend," Lucifer sighed, pouring a drink for the deer demon. "Always with the dramatics. It's fine when you're dealing with everyone else but I've warned you, you'll cross me one day." Lucifer did his best to sound stern but the playfulness hadn't left his voice. In truth, he didn't mind a bit of moxy, but Alastor did tend to push his limits.
True to his thoughts, Alastor ignored the comment and pushed the drink back towards him, leaning his head on his folded hands. "I'm afraid I'm not here for pleasure. We need to have a chat."
The devil feigned an innocent look, "Why about what old sport?" Alastor tilted his head and his eyes narrowed. He wouldn't say he was afraid of the devil, he wasn't much afraid of anyone, but he appreciated an equal when he saw one. Many feared Lucifer. Alastor respected him. In fact, he was flattered, in a way, that Lucifer was playing a game with him, he just didn't appreciate an opponent engaging in foul play.
The Devil took a drink as he observed his unmoving guest before chuckling. "Is she how you remember? That lot is good at changing a person."
Alastor almost bristled. He kept his composure, but the twitching of his ears did not go unnoticed by Lucifer, whose smirk grew wider. "What are you playing at?" the radio demon asked through a barred smile.
Lucifer again feigned a look of hurt. "I really don't know what you mean. Honestly you should be thanking-"
"You and I both are one for our games but this isn't just golden fiddles Lucy. I admire your attention to detail but I'm unclear on what your intention is."
Lucifer stirred his drink with his finger in thought, licking it before pointing it at the Radio Demon. "First of all, I'll have no more of the familiarities if you don't respect your privilege in having them." Alastor did not react, so he kept going with a smirk. "And second, I'm honestly hurt that you'd accuse me of playing games in matters of the heart. My devil may care attitude is for business not family affairs. I thought I was doing you a favor."
Alastor frowned...something most never saw. "I don't follow."
Lucifer leaned in conspiratorially. "I thought it obvious. It's a win for us all. You get a little more sense of home in Hell, WE get an in with our celestial neighbour. Sure she has no memory now but that truly makes things...less complicated, given your history." He grinned as he saw Alastor stiffen. "Win her back to our side. Despite YOU'RE saintly opinion of her you and I both know she barely should have made theirs." A loud humming began to emit from Alastor at the insinuation that made even the devil realize he had misstepped. "Alright, ALRIGHT let me put it a different way. I feel we can agree that she was a good woman who deserved to be there. But she's also a woman who understood the...complexities...of right and wrong. I'd argue you learned from the best with more poor results? And then we have an insider ourselves. They want to supervise us. Let's turn the tables. I feel like I can be frank. You're one of the few down here that could come close to trying to unseat me...and you've never tried. I know it's not from fear...especially after that little display-"
"You're afraid I'd come for your throne? That's wacky nonsense!"
Alastors laugh was interrupted by a quieter, more menacing one of the Devil's own. "Oh I'm not implying you COULD old sport. I simply mean that you've been on a war path since you arrived and you've yet to try. You wouldn't succeed but I respect that you have the tenacity of making a valiant attempt. But you seem content...or aimless perhaps. So there must be something else you're working towards…"
The silence told Lucifer everything he needed to know. "Uh huh….you've never been after me. I personally don't think you care much about the territories. You don't care about my daughters hotel...Vox, Pentious, the other overlords. They want power. You my friend, have been looking for distraction, security, familiarity." Lucifer slid the drink back to Alastor who, this time, took it. "Love conquers all, my friend. Even our own demons….Hell would be very boring if I didn't have my family to share it with."
Alastor had been looking down at his glass, letting the words wash over him. His fondness for Charlie made him dislike the Devil's implication. And more than that, he didn't like being read like this. And he didn't like the implication that, "You think I'd subject someone I cared for to a place like this?" His smile returned but did not quite reach his eyes. "What makes you think I'd want her here with me?"
"That's very big of you considering she's the reason you're here." The glint in the devil's eye was unnerving. "We both know she earned her wings, but I would heartily argue at your expense. But if you're looking for someone who could actually throw a wrench in things, this is about as good as it gets. The way I see it, this is the best chance in hell to see that Charlie's little plan works and you get a second chance with...pardon the expression, facing your demons."
Alastor's face held a blank smile for a moment, unblinking, a radio buzz emanating, as thoughts turned in his head.
FLASH
She was asleep on a sewing machine, still in her apron, a torn suit half fixed under her head.
FLASH
Shouting. A wooden spoon smacked him in the face. It stung but her words hurt more.
FLASH
A funeral. He's staring into her face in a casket. It doesn't look like her.
FLASH
A sunny kitchen filled with a sickening smell of burning flesh over a stove.
FLASH
Dogs barking as he runs through the woods. He trips and the wind leaves his lungs as the barking gets closer.
"Alastor?"
With a bone breaking crack, Alastor snapped his head to the side and snapped himself from his memories. His smile became wider, his eyes narrowing. Insignias began to dance around him.
"You're right Lucy...this could be very interesting, don't you think?"
"As I said old chap. ."
Alastor held up his drink in a salute to the devil. He took a small, thoughtful sip as Lucifer returned it. Was Lucifer right? Was he just looking for a distraction? He had been bored in his conquests as of late. It pained him to admit but...nothing seemed to kill the dull ache that haunted him.
"One more question."
"Oh," Lucifer raised an eyebrow.
Alastor gave him a sinister grin. "As kind as all this is for me and your lovely daughter...you haven't mentioned….what's in this for you?"
The devil gave a hearty laugh, but his eyes hardened. "Why the simple joy of seeing our feathered friends flustered in defeat." Or the joy of guilt putting you in your place.
