nexuses | deviant alert: proceed with caution

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deviant alert: proceed with caution

[Retrieving the body from Canaan had been the easy part. Now the waiting game begins, and that part in and of itself won't be so difficult either—it's transitioning into the next phase that'll be tricky. For now, though, it's the time to play babysitter.

A fallen angel, the attendant to a crippled primarch? How ironic and tedious. Guess he's not done sweating and straining just yet.

Descending the stairway of the abandoned abode in which he's taken up residence, Belial makes his way to the spot where the comatose body rests. As ever, that perfect face looks perfectly at peace.]

Still asleep? For someone who used to be a big shot, you're sure taking your time.

[A primal that has entered its dormant state may take years to recuperate; however, this is Lucifer. Belial doesn't doubt that Lucilius' prized creation will spring back much more quickly than his inferior brethren. It isn't that sooner would be better than later, but more that that's just the way it will be.]

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[Doesn't being so stiff and straight ever get boring?

Belial hums. Where do people get the idea to do this? Let it be known that the people of the past had little regard for self-preservation. Well, there's nothing wrong with being adventurous.]

I see. No wonder you like it so much—it's all about achieving that perfect temperature, duration, and taste . . . Heh. As expected of the supreme primarch.

[With a shrug, he takes a seat across Lucifer.]

You can keep those. Oh, you won't be able to do anything with them, though. I didn't bring anything for the preparation.

[First of all, there's definitely nothing straight about him. About either of them. Second of all—

Well, he's not surprised, and also, he hates that he's getting comfortable here. Once again, Lucifer is holding back a sigh. He can't remember the last time he was this exasperated with someone. Was he ever?]

I can see that. [He can't really say he's disappointed, because honestly, he had no expectations of him to begin with.] But thank you, I suppose. Perhaps they'll have their use in the future.

[Doubtful, but still, he's polite. "Polite." He can't exactly say that Belial's assessment is wrong, but you know what, he doesn't have to say it's right, either—]

[Enjoy the useless gift. Maybe, if Belial's in a good and generous mood, he'll bring the necessary equipment in piece by piece. Who knows how long that'd take?]

All right, now that that's been cleared . . . How about that question?

[Unless Lucifer's stupid, the question that isn't getting answered won't spring up again. That makes this slightly more promising, though Belial isn't holding his breath.]

[He won't hold his breath, just like he hasn't been holding his breath about these questions. He's absolutely thought about what kinds of questions to ask him. He's thought about what questions he might answer and which ones he probably wouldn't. He wasn't even sure if Belial would actually offer to answer anymore, though he was sure he would see him again eventually, either way, so Lucifer has certainly given this some thought.

There's a short but thoughtful pause before—]

Hmm. Tell me: how was your day?

[Completely seriously. That's his question.]

[Wow. What is that? If he had less self-control, Belial would be howling with laughter. It won't do to spoil the fun, though, so he seamlessly supplies his answer after gauging Lucifer's presentation with raised eyebrows.]

Oh, you know. The marketplace is surprisingly busy this time of day. But I got what I came for, and here I am.

[Most of the remaining time was spent on the commute. Let it never be said that he doesn't go the distance for Lucifer. He even paid with rupies!]

How the rest of the day goes depends on you.

[Like that's supposed to be impressive!! But as fascinating as it is to hear about Belial's shopping trip, there's a slight hint of curiosity in Lucifer's tone as he asks:]

Does it?

[Is Belial finally going to get to the point of all of this... Sounds fake, tbh. But he'll listen to his potential demands anyway.]

[That's because it is fake.]

I gave you three days. Have you figured out a routine yet? I'm curious to know what you've been up to.

[Belial has no demands (yet), only the lowest of expectations (self-proclaimed). He wouldn't be surprised to hear that Lucifer's just been sitting around: That wouldn't be too different from what the glorious archangel had been doing before.]

[What a bizarre question... There was surely nothing here that Belial didn't know about. What kind of answer was he expecting?

Lucifer answers honestly, though, regardless.]

It's generous to call it a routine, isn't it? I watch, and I think. That's all there really is.

[But he's not complaining. True enough, it's basically what he's always done.]

You don't say. I can guess what you've been watching, but how about a rupie for your thoughts?

[Lucifer owes him several hundred thoughts for all the rupies he spent on those beans. Cough up the details. Belial will bet a hundred rupies that at least one is about Sandy, because they just seem so attached to each other.]

You can guess that, too, can't you?

[In other words, why is he asking. But he still answers, knowing Belial will probably bug him until he does.]

I wonder about the things you won't tell me. I wonder about the things I can no longer see. The world seems a lot smaller now.

[Gosh, it's like Lucifer doesn't have a friend to practice the art of small talk with (wait). Belial smirks.]

Well, that's a surprise. I wasn't expecting you to be the glass-half-empty type. Small as this place is, you should appreciate the fact that you get to physically interact with the world now, don't you think?

[It's a rather big place, too—just small in comparison to the rest of the sky. Perhaps Lucifer's been spoiled by his omniscience.]

What should I be interacting with, in your opinion?

[It wasn't so much that he minded the lack of omniscience now, it was just... different. It was not how he had spent so much of his life. He hasn't been without the ability long so he doesn't miss it quite yet, but it's... different.

But omniscience or no, big place or no, there still wasn't very much for him to do here. ...maybe the problem is that his job had also been his hobby. One of very few hobbies. He was pretty lacking in that department.]

Oh, I don't know. What ever happened to that interior decoration gig? I'm no twin, but you can treat me as your go-between with the rest of the world. All you have to do is tell me what you need.

[Will Belial get it? Probably not. But he might get a thing once in a while, just to keep their interactions interesting. Only thing is, Lucifer already seems so rebellious about acquiescing to his light-hearted demands. Who'd have thought?]

[s t o p]

The only one I'm interacting with, then, is you.

[Does that really count as "interacting with the world"... Sounds disappointing, really. Anyway, he doesn't want anything from him and he never did.]

It doesn't have to be a person to qualify as an interaction, you know.

[Although that's a moot point even with him. Archangels aren't exactly people.]

Would you rather that I left you here by yourself?

[Probably, yeah.]

I don't recall asking for your company.

[In other words, yes, that would be ideal. He'll respond to his "offer" properly now.]

Regardless, I do not require anything from you. I'm sure this won't be too much of a problem.

[Wouldn't it be better if he didn't "have" to bring him anything? Though he's not sure why he'd bother to begin with.]

[Being too polite can be rude, Lucifer. It's no problem, to be sure; however, that's boring and Belial doesn't care for that more than having to fly between islands.]

All right, so you don't need anything. But is there something that you want?

[He wants him to go away, but he accepts that's probably never gonna happen. Besides that... Hmm.]

Something to read, perhaps.

[That was something he didn't need, something he could absolutely live without, but probably wouldn't be offended if Belial "just happened" to pick it up. Probably.]

[Wow, he actually bit? Color Belial surprised.]

A book? Okay. Have a preference for the genre? There are all kinds of stories and literature, you know.

[More than he knows about, so he wouldn't be able to help. Belial's still got a fair bit to learn about the skydwellers and their culture.]

I haven't read many books written by skyfarers. [He'd never needed to. Between the Astrals' research and his own observations, he knew everything he'd ever needed to know. So...] Surprise me.

[He didn't think Belial would go through the trouble to look for and acquire anything specific, anyway, so he'll keep his "demands" simple for both their sakes.]

[That's nothing to be ashamed of, Lucifer. Belial hasn't read anything, either! He prefers physical demonstrations.]

Oh, I will.

But color me curious. What kind of books have you read?

[lewd]

Research and historical accounts, to see how skydwellers document such things.

[And that's... pretty much it.✨]

[You're lewd (no, you're not, and that's the problem). Belial chuckles mirthlessly.]

That's just like you. Rest assured, I won't bring you anything like either of those. Didn't you ever get tired of watching the skydwellers' primitive ways?

[Certain aspects of their culture are fascinating, to be sure. But no matter how hard and long they try, the skydwellers simply won't catch up to the Astrals.]

Whether I "got tired" of it or not is irrelevant. It was the purpose for which I was created.

[It had never been a matter of what he wanted or didn't want, what he liked or disliked. He wasn't created to— have feelings about those sorts of things.]

[Oh, here they go again.]

Yeah, but have you ever thought about it? Any given task is that much better when you enjoy doing it.

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