"Tell me one thing, Father."

"Yes?"
He knew, of course, but He always made the asker voice their thoughts when He guided them. Now He wasn't going to tell Lucifer what to do, but He could contemplate it, or nudge him in the right direction if He thought to.

Lucifer needed to know either way.

"Is it possible to love humanity as I have loved you?"
It was hard to say, for it felt as if he was already bowing to them, already giving up his love for God.

A great, blinding smile radiated from God, though his form had no discernible features. The joy that emanated and sank into Lucifer's grace was as if the question, despite being known before even Lucifer dared think it, had been an unexpectedly delightful surprise.

"I never made anyone to fail, Lucifer. I gave you all the ability to be more. I would never have asked to bow, never let Michael Fell you if you had no potential for the task I set before you."

Lucifer tried to understand the way his Grace seemed to shudder at that.

Ah. He had failed.

But he supposed he had the ability to fix things, as well.

Uncomfortably, he shifted. He was still unready to give himself to humanity, and any sort of give felt upsetting, but he knew that to be his pride.

"So tell me of humanity?" He says hopefully.

God laughs, then, and sighs, "No, Lucifer, learn to love on your own, remember? It is up to you."

Lucifer sends, through his Grace, the non-ambivalent version of a sagging motion, and God laughs, again.

Lucifer notes he has a face, now. A small man, pale and unassuming, although God shown through bright and amused.

Lucifer felt he was owed a direct answer, at least. God should not answer as the Devil might - so vaguely. No sooner had he thought it that God sighed, almost sadly, as if catching it and disapproving of the name-calling.

"Yes. In fact, it will only take one human in particular to gain all of your affections."

Lucifer waited for more, resumed slumping when no words were forthcoming.

God could not seem to stop laughing.

And perhaps it made Lucifer laugh, too.