Cupid's Point was not a place they had to reserve, anyone was allowed to show up when they wanted to and it was one of the least used places in Lust. Though there were those that certainly enjoyed it, it was also far from what people expected when they thought of going down to Lust. Most demons that visited didn't even know it was a thing. Lucifer had been here before, long ago with Lilith, and Asmodeus certainly managed the upkeep of them well.
The gazebos were a darker pink compared to what the water turned, elegant with comfortable pillows and blankets inside them. There were sheer curtains that hung around them too, embroidered with hearts and actually white in color. They didn't keep anyone from seeing in, but they did obscure the view slightly and gave the impression of privacy. He wouldn't doubt exhibitionism and voyeurism were something that happened in Lust. Even with Asmodeus being heavy on consent, he can't be everywhere at once.
At the very least the little buildings were spaced far enough apart that when they did pick one, they couldn't see anyone else around them. Lucifer pulled the curtain back and allowed Alastor to duck inside before following him. They pulled the chords on the other curtains, keeping just the ones that face the water itself peeled back.
All the Seven Rings of Hell had something about them that made them rather attractive. For Pride, he would say it was the sky. The bright red sun, the pentagram in the sky, the way that when the sun sets and the red moon rises it changes the hellish red color to a more soothing one. For Wrath, it was probably the mountains and volcanoes in the distance, adding to the scenery. Gluttony had their odd forest, Greed had all their buildings and stores. Envy had the ocean of course and Sloth had their clear air as well as their elegant cafes and cute streets. For Lust, this was what he thought was the more beautiful aspect of it.
For all that this was a punishment, Alastor was right in saying people were resilient and would find a way to make it something bearable. Something that they could live with, even if that seemed rather impossible.
He settled down against a few of the pillows and crossed his legs in front of him, watching the pink water of the river that ran through Lust. It didn't have any animals in it, not even any fish that one typically spotted in rivers. Lust actually didn't have much in terms of wildlife. They had some birds, weird things with glowing eyes and spiteful personalities, but that was about it. Bugs were more prominent here than in the other rings, and that included Pride with its overwhelming amount of cockroaches that Niffty loved.
"So, what turns the water pink?" Alastor questioned, leaning forward a bit and trying to peer down into the water.
"The odd rocks in it." He replied, pushing himself up and leaning across the ground to reach down into the water. He felt around inside, grasped one of the crystals finally and plucked it out. Settling back down he held it out for Alastor to take. It was clear, perfectly see through and almost clouded white. Alastor plucked it from his fingers with the tips of his claws and started looking it over.
"It's not pink."
"No. When it comes into contact with different elements, the rock changes color. Water at night makes it grow pink, during the day it's blue. Ozzie tested having it touch electricity and it actually exploded." He waves his hand in the air. "Air has it look like that. They're very odd."
"How very fascinating and strange." That was something they could agree with. At the same time though, he thought they were cool too. The little details he remembers lately while exploring Hell, makes him realize that he never actually hated this place as much as it seemed.
He had made this his home.
"They certainly were put to good use." Lucifer stated, looking out at the water again and smiling. "They're created in the river here in Lust, and Ozzie definitely had a brilliant idea. The river is very pretty."
Alastor hummed and tossed the crystal back out, allowing it to plop into the water with an audible sound. "I suppose. I still prefer the one in Hell with the vicious ducks in it."
A laugh slips from him and Lucifer turns, grabbing Alastor's arm and pulling the Radio Demon over toward him. "Uh-huh. We can go back there sometime and feed them again. Maybe we'll get to watch a body being buried again."
"Hm. I have many critiques for how they do it. They don't tend to care about my opinion over it though." Has he really tried to stop someone just to give them a lecture on the method in which he buried a corpse?
You know what, Lucifer believes it. He would do that if only to piss someone off. "Only you." And maybe Satan. Shaking his head the King leaned against Alastor and watched the running river, the way the water danced along the crystals and bubbles at the edges.
All these little things about Alastor were what made him happy though. The chaos that he carried in him and the way he picked the world apart. He had his flaws (the murderous psychopathic parts), but so did Lucifer. His own sins have certainly grown while he's been down here, he enjoyed chaos far more than he used to, and he indulges in things that would make an angel scream. But, that didn't bother him anymore. Lucifer feels he can confidently say he was happy with who he was. He still had a few issues, some self-confidence problems, his wings still made him uncomfortable. That would take a bit longer to deal with, but he's made progress.
He is who he is, and that doesn't seem like a terrible person anymore.
Lucifer feels Alastor wrap his arms around his waist and tug the King of Hell toward him. He's seated in the demon's lap and leans back comfortably against his chest, listening to the way his body clicks over from the static to the soft sound of Jazz music. Moments like these are some of his favorites and it's been a while since they've actually gotten to just spend time together.
After having to settle Lute, convincing Lilith to stay (which admittedly he made Charlie do), and dealing with Michael–they just haven't had much time alone together. The chain was returned to his soul before his brother left, and Lilith had much to his joy gone and saw Rosie. From what Alastor told him of that, Rosie had taken a very keen interest in Lilith and he believes it'll be good for both of them. Rosie doesn't have many friends who aren't also customers or someone she intends on eventually eating. Though it also apparently made the Radio Demon slightly uncomfortable having someone like Lilith so close to his friend, though he did convey he believes without Michael's influence it'll be better.
Lilith took an interest in the Hotel, even though it was just to help Charlie. She was staying for their daughter and that meant the world to her. She still kept the deal with Michael, perhaps as a safety net, but she hadn't left either. He was going to trust that Michael didn't intend on using it against Lilith again, and that didn't feel impossible anymore. His brothers were making an effort, and he couldn't let it be one sided, he would try to trust them all as well.
With things mostly under control now though, they managed to finally get some alone time and Lucifer was incredibly grateful. It was nice to trust they could get away and that someone would still be watching over the Hotel. Either Lilith or now Leviathan with his own son spending more time up in Pride with his friends. Charlie's little network of people was growing larger every single day and it was brilliant to watch. She shined so brightly when she realized all the people that did believe in her.
Lucifer feels Alastor rest his head on top of his own, the arms that tightened around his waist pulling him a bit closer against the demon. He gives a small hum and tilts his back a bit, attempting to not disrupt the other but wanting to get a look at him too. Alastor seemed quite relaxed, the adorable ears on his head standing upright and twitched in his direction. He seemed to be listening quite intently to Lucifer, either the sound of his heart or his breathing. Since he collapsed on him and apparently attempted earning himself a permanent vacation from Hell, he seemed to pay more attention to Lucifer's heartbeat. When they went to bed he had taken to actually sleeping with his head on Lucifer's chest or his hand resting somewhere he could feel the King's pulse.
He definitely was going to be more careful when breaking contracts or pulling holy energy into himself in the future. If just so Alastor didn't have to worry like that again.
Reaching his own right hand up he slipped his fingers along the top of Alastor's hair, running the tips of them to the cute twitching ear that he could actually reach. He watched the other's red eyes slowly open and blink down at him, the smile on his face smooth and soft at the edges.
"You seem very happy." Lucifer commented and Alastor gave a quiet hum.
"I enjoy getting to be with you." He admitted and the warmth those words bloomed in his heart might as well have been a burning fire on their own.
"It is very much a mutual feeling, you know."
"Yes, you are quite obvious with your emotions."
Good. Let Alastor know how much the King of Hell absolutely adores him. He should know he matters to the people around him, that he isn't unwanted or viewed as some sort of disgusting demon with repulsive habits. He was a brilliant, creative and an incredibly fierce person with some very demonic tendencies. And he's still very wanted by Lucifer.
Pulling away from Alastor he turned in the demon's lap to face him and slid back up against him, settling in his lap properly again with his legs wrapped around him. Reaching his arms back up, he wound them around Alastor's neck and slid his fingers into that bright red hair to start playing with the ends of it. "You know, you're very pretty." He states, grinning widely at Alastor. "Red is certainly a good look on you."
The Radio Demon blinked and raised his eyebrows at him. Humming in contemplation he darted his gaze to the side, taking in the water behind the King a moment before turning back. "Though I didn't choose the hairstyle, it does seem to work with me. Certainly hides the blood well."
Ah. It doesn't surprise him that is the first thing Alastor considers when he thinks of the color red. "Not angelic blood." He states. "And I can't see you remedying that by wearing gold."
The look Alastor gets at that says he's nothing sort of insulted at the mere suggestion of wearing gold. A laugh immediately falls from Lucifer and he leans forward, tucking his head down against the demon's shoulder as he chuckles. Even he can't imagine the Radio Demon wearing gold, though he's certain that Alastor could make anything he wears look attractive.
The arms around him tightened again and this time Lucifer found himself pulled to the side. Alastor laid down amongst all the pillows and blankets, settling them both comfortably with Lucifer laying on his side facing him. He moved his right arm to prop his head up and still continued to play with Alastor's hair with his other, tracing the outline of his ears and the little antlers nestled between them. He feels his tail captured in the Radio Demon's grip, the flickering appendage happily wrapping around the hand holding it. Alastor's thumb pressed against the flat side of it and started tracing the outline, sending little shocks of pleasure along his spine.
Smiling softly down at Alastor he leaned closer to him and gently pressed his forehead against the other's. The hand that wasn't playing with his tail slipped beneath the both of them and Alastor threaded his fingers through Lucifer's blonde hair, tugging on him gently until their lips pressed together. There was actual heat and desire in this kiss, Lucifer's fingers tangling in the demon's hair as he pressed up against him. It felt like his breath was being stolen from him, a fire sent through his body and his entire being consumed by the Radio Demon beneath him. Untangling his left hand from Alastor's hair he grasped the other's shoulder and pushed him down, rolling over so he was straddling his waist.
That grip on his tail hadn't loosened at all, if anything Alastor had actually tightened his hold on it. The pointed tip of it flicked in the his hold, displaying its own contentment at the situation.
Lucifer pulled back a bit, the both of them breathing quite heavily, gripping tightly at each other as if they could hang onto one another and keep them right there in that moment. Wrapped in the blankets, the soft glow of the pink water beside them and the solitude of just being in each other's presence. A moment captured by just the two of them, the emotions Lucifer felt for Alastor displayed clearly for him to see.
A breath is taken in deeply and the King of Hell adjusted on top of the Radio Demon, settling more comfortably in his lap. "Alastor."
"Hm?"
"Do you want to be the Queen of Hell?"
The question does appear to genuinely catch him off guard, especially with the sincere way that Lucifer asked it. No teasing this time, no words thrown out into the wind, but genuinely asking. He watches the other blink, the way he appeared to try and read through Lucifer but the question was as point blank as it could have been. There wasn't any hidden intention there, no secret meaning. Which was all that Alastor finds when watching him. "Are you asking me to marry you?"
"I cannot imagine you holding a wedding. I can't even imagine you doing it to humor me." And he does a lot to humor Lucifer. Some things that he's genuinely grateful for. But not this, not something he's certain would make Alastor uncomfortable.
He earns another hum, neither one of agreement or disagreement. "Then what are you suggesting, Lucifer? Since you're the one that said I would need to marry you to attain such a title."
"I didn't say I wasn't asking you to marry me." He corrects, drawing another surprised look from Alastor. He was getting good at causing that. "I said I wouldn't expect you to partake in a wedding." In dressing up and walking down an aisle, in having some tedious grand party where they were the center of attention. Well, Alastor might have enjoyed that part, he does love to cause a scene. "What is a marriage if not just a contract? A piece of paper with an agreement on it. Some legal documents that are signed too but you're quite good at paperwork." He offers a shrug.
Alastor blinked and he caught the twitch of the deer ears on top of his head, the curious flick of them as he took in what Lucifer was saying. "You want to make a deal."
He catches on quickly.
"I want to break our current deals and make a new one. A proper one. Sign some fancy papers in my office and give you a title. One you have more than earned, that you're already doing the work for." He can't deny that, and Lucifer won't let anyone say otherwise. Alastor has done more work as the Queen of Hell than Lucifer has done as the actual King. He's earned this offer, and Lucifer perhaps selfishly wants to keep the demon as close to him as he can. Alastor was the one who said it first; they belonged to each other.
The smile tugs on his face wider and he moves his hand to trace the edges of Alastor's ears. "I love you, and I want you by my side for as long as you'll stay there."
He can see the sharp intake of breath that Alastor takes at those words, the way his eyes widened slightly before returning to normal. It wasn't as if Lucifer had ever tried to hide it, but hearing it out loud must have been something else. A confirmation that what he was seeing was correct, was genuine with no hidden alternative motive. Just Lucifer and his entire heart laid out right in front of the other. "The amount of trust you have toward me, Sire, should unnerve you."
"Maybe." He agrees, shaking his head. "But you have done nothing to take advantage of or manipulate me. Certainly, part of that was probably the deal and maybe in the future with it gone you might try that. But, I don't believe you will. I do trust you, and I don't regret that at all. For all that you are. Petty, stubborn, manipulative, a bastard sometimes and a ruthless killer–you are also a genuine and remarkable person." Never once had he lied to Lucifer or even Charlie. He was open in what he did, and he honored the deals that he made. He could be cold and cruel, but Lucifer didn't see him as a liar or the type of person to betray the trust he had given him. To take advantage of the emotions that had grown between the two of them, the relationship that they had built. "You are who you are, and at no point in this had I deluded myself into what I was getting into. I knew from the very beginning you could have taken advantage of me. I'm more surprised you haven't."
Alastor hummed and tugged on Lucifer's tail slightly. "Maybe you should have read some of those papers I had you sign."
A laugh falls from him sharply at that and Lucifer shakes his head, rolling his eyes at the demon. "I ignored those papers for over five hundred years, anything you had me sign was probably better dealt with than continuing to sit in the void." Besides, setting the Pride Ring on fire with anything he did sign didn't benefit Alastor any, other than for a few minutes of enjoyment. The most it would mean was the Overlord beneath him would have had to deal with something personally, and he wouldn't want that. Besides, a little chaos would have entertained him too.
He is the devil.
Tugging on the ear he was playing with he continued to watch the demon beneath him closely. "Alastor." He called again, the smile on his face softening. "Marry me."
The smile he earns at that is well worth it. He could see as clear as day the emotions Alastor felt, the depth of his feelings for Lucifer. It was, definitely, the most emotions he's ever seen on the Radio Demon's face and all he wanted was to fall into them. Alastor drags his claws through Lucifer's hair, tugging him down toward him again. When the demon leaned up he pressed their foreheads together once more and gave a nod. "Alright." And that simple word made his heart practically soar in his chest. "Though you are incredibly reckless, handing the title of Queen to the Radio Demon of all people. I believe the Pride Ring will scream in fear when they find out."
"Good. Let them fear the Royal Family finally."
Alastor would make a fine devil for Hell to finally tremble beneath. They might not get a wedding, they won't stand before someone and say cheese vows or declare their love publically. Those were things Lucifer doesn't need though, things he's done before and didn't hold a relationship together any better. All they needed, truely, was each other and an understanding of what they were. Of what to expect from this. They can hold a party to announce it and let Charlie handle the entire thing. She would get so much joy out of doing that and hosting the celebration, and they could duck out as soon as possible without being noticed. Lucifer will definitely be attending the Overlord Meeting where everyone realizes what the Radio Demon is.
"Lucifer."
He hums and lowers himself down, dropping his head onto Alastor's chest and winding his arms comfortably around the other's neck. He clings to him tightly, enjoying the steady sound of music that was still coming from the demon's body. Alastor settled his hands against his back, tracing up and down along his spine.
There's a bit of shifting and he feels Alastor lean up, the soft feeling of a kiss pressed against his head. "I do love you and I don't intend on manipulating you with this."
His arms tightened around Alastor's neck at those words, the widening of a grin stretched across his face. He took a breath that trembled in his chest and turned his head slightly, looking up at that beautiful demon he had become quite enthralled with. "I believe you." He does, he genuinely does. "I told you, I trust you and I don't regret a single thing we've done. You are everything to me too, Alastor." He tucked his chin against the demon's chest and grinned sharply. "And you'll make a terrifying Queen of Hell."