deviant alert: proceed with caution

[patisse]

[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.]

Comments

[supremo]

[Flatly:]

Spending the rest of my life here with you is not exactly ideal.

[It could absolutely be worse, he realizes. But this still really, really sucks. He wasn't going to be grateful that he was "just" being held captive.]

[patisse]

[For a circumstance that is oozing with "sucks," why has Lucifer not yet learned the art? This is why neither of them has nice things.]

Heh, you're not the only one. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

[supremo]

[Ah, yes, the desperate times and measures he won't tell him about.]

I'm certain. Yet, you remain here of your own accord.

[No one was making him stay. It wasn't like he needed to stay to prevent Lucifer from leaving—there was nowhere he could go in the first place. As far as Lucifer could tell, there was no reason for him to remain in his presence...

Besides to be obnoxious.]

[patisse]

[That'd spoil the surprise.]

Is it wrong of a primarch to seek the company of the supreme primarch?

[This is not what he said earlier—]

[supremo]

You seemed to feel otherwise just a moment ago.

[It's funny how Belial starts to seem vaguely tolerable for two seconds and then immediately turns it all around.]

[patisse]

[It's a gift. He shrugs.]

This and that are different. As much of a cold shower as you are, I can't seem to stay away.

[Well, that's for a specific reason, but Lucifer doesn't need to know it yet.]

Maybe it's the face.

[supremo]

[Why... is he Like This.......

Lucifer holds back a sigh, but his words are none-too-polite, regardless.]

It sounds like you're the one with the problem here.

[patisse]

[He was born this way.]

You flatter me. But that makes me wonder . . . What is this to you, if not a problem?

[Belial motions to the walls around them.]

[supremo]

An inconvenience. [It's an easy answer—he doesn't even have to think about it.] I don't want to be here, but neither is there somewhere that I need to be.

[Having passed on his role, he didn't exactly have prior engagements or responsibilities to worry about at this point. There were things he wanted to see to, for sure, but nothing that he had to see to, either. He had left things with Sandalphon for a reason.]

[patisse]

[Didn't he address this earlier? Trust Lucifer to be so painfully rational, such a model tool.]

You know, you have this nasty habit of burying your wants with needs. Are you aware of that?

[Most people are upfront about what they want—not that they're people, but thus far he's had to pull the wants (that aren't of Lucifer's grousing about being here) out like teeth. Perhaps some self-reflection is in order.]

[supremo]

...I'm aware. [Of course he is—it's not like he hasn't heard it before. But there's something... annoying about it, when he's the one saying it.] How is this relevant?

[He could understand why, for Sandalphon, this might be an issue. There were many reasons why it could be a problem for him. But again, he can't possibly fathom why it matters to Belial, the difference between what he wants or needs.]

[patisse]

[Belial shrugs his shoulders, his tone flippant and light.]

Mm, just a recurring theme I've noticed. No wonder you've got a penchant for burning bridges, as the skydwellers would say.

[It's also bound to be a source of frustration while Lucifer's cooped up here, so they should probably get to working on that soon.]

[supremo]

["Burning bridges," he says... The phrase makes everything sound so trivial, and that was hardly the way that Lucifer saw it. Still, he doesn't correct Belial's words—he can't deny that, technically, bridges were indeed burnt.]

I fail to understand why you would assume the two are related. But you are free to believe what you wish.

[Belial didn't know anything... But it didn't matter whether he did or not, either.]

[patisse]

[Oh, yes. Lucifer practically torched those bridges. Hacked the wood up, set the remainder ablaze!]

Oh, I think they're plenty related. The only one who doesn't seem to believe that must be you.

[He leans forward, propping an elbow on the table between them and cupping his cheek. He remembers, two thousand years ago, how easily one archangel had changed their tune.]

Why was it that Sandy dumped you all those years ago?

[supremo]

[At this point, he's not even asking, "Why?" anymore. He would just like to be ended.

It should probably make him angry that he's bringing up such a thing, but more than anything, Lucifer is just unimpressed.]

That's rather presumptuous. [It had been a factor, for sure, but it was hardly the only reason...] Regardless, it unfortunately seems this bridge is one I'm unable to burn.

[He is cursed.]

[patisse]

[Give it another year and maybe Lucifer's wish will come true. It's almost impressive, though, how many ways he's phrased his distaste for the situation. This particular one tickles a funny nerve in Belial.]

Really? It doesn't seem to me like you're even trying, Lucifer. If you have something to say, then you should say it—don't you agree?

[In other words, please spit it out and cease this cryptic girl talk. Didn't Sandy's tantrum teach Lucifer anything?]

[supremo]

Have I not made my feelings clear?

[Admittedly, this was a thing Lucifer struggled with and he knew it. This time, though, he was pretty confident that there was little being left to the imagination. He'd already said all that needed to be said.]

The one who ought to speak up is you. Your unspoken expectations are tiresome.

[patisse]

Oh, yeah—just like that! [If he were a golfer, he'd give Lucifer a golf clap. Alas, he is a gofer.] Now that you've brought it to the table . . . I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but I just can't tell you yet.

[He can. He just wants to be difficult, because frustrating others is entertaining sport.]

But this is a good start, Lucifer. Keep working on the approach, and the powers that be just might reward you for your hard work.

[supremo]

["The approach?" And "the powers that be?" This is exactly what he's talking about!! But asking only ever got him the same answer. Funny how he wished for Lucifer to speak his mind, yet did not offer the same courtesy in return.

It wasn't much of a conversation. Then again, it wasn't like he wanted to converse with him to begin with.]

I suppose I have no choice but to follow your lead.

[And tbh? Gross. Pass.]

[patisse]

I know, I know. It's a pretty big change from being the leader. But if anyone can do it, it must be you.

[With that established, it's his cue to go. He plants his feet on the floor, rises from his seat, and heads for the doorway. If he overstays his welcome, then the conversation will grow stale and annoying.]

Anyway, it's about time that I head out. Enjoy the beans—and think about a different question for next time, won't you?

[supremo]

[If we're being technical, he'd be more than fine with not being in charge... But there's no need to clarify something like that, not to him. He glances at the bag when Belial mentions the beans before looking back up at him.

Finally... Some peace and quiet. It may not have been a long time in reality, but it sure felt like an eternity anyway.]

I'll consider it. Thank you.

[He doesn't really care!!]