"Where are you?" Lucifer muttered to himself and looked around as he slowly drove near the Griffith Observatory in his black classic Corvette. He could feel Oriel's presence nearby but couldn't see her anywhere.
"Right here. You're not losing your touch are you?" Oriel answered as she materialized in the seat next to him. "It's nice down here but from up behind the sign, the view is amazing. Have you seen it?"
He remained silent, shook his head no and waited for her to continue. He knew Oriel well enough to know that she was not finished. "I guess you shouldn't have severed those wings," she said with a sideways glance.
"Oriel, this will not end well if you only asked me here to vex me," Lucifer told her seriously as he brought the car to a halt in a parking space at the Observatory.
"Cranky, aren't we?" she asked deciding to tease him a little before broaching the subject she wanted to talk about. "You should try to get more sleep. Now, do you cut back on early morning crime solving or the late nights at Lux? That's a tough one."
"Oriel!" he said angrily, his eyes now glowing red.
"Of course I asked you here for more than to have you flash your eyes at me. I know better than to waste your time. Oh look…I almost got you to smile," Oriel said. "Have you thought about anything I said since we last spoke?"
"Of course," he replied and waited to see where she was going with this conversation.
"For more than five minutes after I left?" she questioned all serious.
"I told you before, you're overreacting," he said matter-of-factly.
"Amenadiel came to see me. Twice," Oriel stated, hoping the mention his angelic brother would get a response other than boredom from Lucifer. "Do you still think I am overreacting?"
"What did my esteemed brother have to say?" he asked sarcastically, his curiosity roused.
"He wants you to return to hell; I assume he has already told you as much," she responded while watching him closely.
"More than once," Lucifer told her. "I told him I'm not going anywhere."
"I have a feeling he's more than willing to put you back in hell himself," she said with concern.
"I am more than willing to cut his heart out," he said looking directly at Oriel with anger filling his voice. He then looked straight ahead and gazed out the windshield as he continued, "Maze also feels that it would be best if I returned to hell."
"I could've told you that five years ago. Did you really think she would like it here for any length of time?" Oriel answered as Lucifer turned towards her his eyes filled with rage. Seeing his reaction caused her to slightly change the subject of their conversation. "Okay, moving on. Amenadiel also seems to think I orchestrated your stay here."
"What would you have to do with me remaining in L.A.?" Lucifer asked with astonishment his anger forgotten.
"I guess he thinks that since I can't get into hell, I somehow coerced you into remaining on the earthly plane," she told him as she ran her hands through her hair. "Why he thinks I would pick this town is beyond me."
"You can see me whenever you like; as always," he replied plainly.
"I didn't think that was any of his business, so I didn't share that fact," Oriel stated. "Then again, maybe he already knows; they do like keeping an eye on you."
"What are your thoughts on me staying here permanently?" he said interrupting her.
"My thoughts?" she asked, caught off guard. "What does it matter? You're going to do whatever you want to do, no matter what I say."
"You're the one who wanted to talk tonight," Lucifer said to her. "I know you too well, Oriel. You wouldn't have shown up at Lux last week if you were ambivalent about the subject, no matter who asked you to stop by."
"I already told you how I feel; I would prefer if you not die," she answered somberly.
"I'm immortal," he said shortly.
"So am I, more or less. However, we both know that there are ways to bring about our deaths," Oriel countered. She paused for a second and bit her lip before continuing. She knew that her words were going to anger Lucifer more than a little. "You need to look at things beyond your own personal wants for more than a second or two."
Lucifer looked at her with exasperation and she could tell his patience was wearing thin. Undeterred, she continued, "How long do you think the inmates will be content to play in the asylum? Just because you're here doesn't mean that hell closed up shop. New souls enter every day."
"And?" he asked with irritation, fingers drumming against the steering wheel.
"Demons will be demons; today, they'll play by the rules, tomorrow, not so much. When they escape – or get bored like you did – where do you think they're going to go?" she asked him pointedly.
"I. DON'T. CARE," he said with a raised voice. "I played the role my father set me for longer than I ever wanted. I'm done with it."
"You'll care when this new sandbox you found isn't around to play in any longer," Oriel retorted angrily. His egotistical view of everything and unwillingness to even consider the possible outcomes from his actions was beginning to fire her own temper.
"My father won't allow that to happen," Lucifer assured her.
"Are you sure of that?" she said emphatically as a slight look of distress crossed her face; it was as if she was remembering an unpleasant dream.
"I need to get back," he said, abruptly ending their talk despite noticing the look of unease that passed over her countenance. He decided to let it pass without mention for the time being. "Stop by Lux after closing time."
"No," Oriel stated defiantly. He wasn't the only one who could be stubborn at inopportune times.
"You dare to say no to me," he growled loudly, eyes glowing.
"I do, I have, and I will continue to do so when I see fit," she replied unmoved by his reaction to her denial.
"Do you realize what – and who – you are turning down?" Lucifer asked as he gestured to include himself and his car while looking into her eyes intently. His tone was suddenly mischievous replacing the previous anger.
"Dark, powerful, and sexy," Oriel said slowly and laughed as she looked at the Corvette, "This is a gorgeous piece of automotive machinery." She knew by his sudden mood change some piece of what she said had gotten through to him – which part remained to be seen. "I never said I didn't want to see you. You just have to come up with a better option, Lucifer Morningstar."
"I will devise an option acceptable to you, demon," he told her confidently.
"Demon? You don't get what you want, right when you want it and now I'm a demon? Funny how that works," she replied with a smile, her eyes bright.
"Since you won't be stopping by, I assume you will be returning home?" he inquired, ignoring her words.
"It's been a long day. I'll probably find a cave somewhere to rest a bit," she said nonchalantly knowing her words were sure to provoke a reaction.
"Really, Oriel, a cave?" Lucifer asked with surprise and slight disdain. "I can get you a penthouse in town or out of town if you wish." As she laughed at his reply her hair glistened like a fire surrounding her, he questioned, "What's so droll?"
"You are, even after all these years. Watching you in your bespoke suiting and classic automobile, all luxury at its finest, still trying to wrap your intellect around why anyone – myself, in particular – would willingly sleep in a mountainside cave amuses me," she explained. "Here's a hint: the mountains, beaches, forest clearings are peaceful."
"So is a penthouse," he assured her with a wicked smile.
"Not tonight, Lucifer," Oriel said and fixed him with her gaze.
"Your defiance never ceases to amaze me," he said and then asked, "Tomorrow?"
"I think that depends on you and what you come up with," Oriel said and then leaned over to kiss him before disappearing.
Lucifer took his time getting back and walked into Lux near midnight. On the way, he actually spent some time thinking about some of the things Oriel had said. The look of unease that briefly passed over her face while they spoke bothered him more than he cared to admit. He was almost certain that she saw something even with her limited power. What it was and why she wouldn't say anything to him about it were questions he intended to get answered.
"Nice of you to show up," Maze said from behind the bar as she handed Lucifer a glass.
"I had things to do. It looks like you managed fine without me for a bit," he replied and took a long sip from the glass and spun a coin in his hand.
"Off playing cop again?" she asked sarcastically and poured him another drink. "Did you get a badge yet?"
"Not tonight, Maze. I'm in no mood," Lucifer replied irritably and stalked off glass in hand.
