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[1926]

[He'd been... what had he been doing? Well, it didn't matter now, because now, he was being pulled. That oh-so familiar sensation. A summon. Who on Earth--? He had just enough time to leave Aziraphale a note as he fought off the magic for as long as he could. Not to worry, he was just out~ A summons and all.

With a pull and a pop, the feeling of being spaghettified then woven back together rippled through him. In a flash of ashes, fire, and smoke, the Garden's Serpent was deposited not so neatly in a summoning circle that doubled as a holding circle. The tumble through planes of existence had forced his wings, but he quickly tucked them back into the ethereal plane when he picked himself up off the floor, rubbing his pounding head.]

Ngk! Bloody summoning magic. Like the worst hangover that I can't just miracle away... Oi! Get on with it. I'd like to go home.

[But... no one was there. At least, not outside the roughly three metre radius of the circle. It seems he wasn't the only one that got caught in this little spell... Ancient runes and old magic scrawled in the intricate pattern on the floor kept his powers under lock...]

[thisducks]

[ Oh, the stories of ancient days about people summoning the devil... he had it under very good faith that nearly every last story was the product of fanciful story telling or some lesser creature like the occasional imp, plenty of succubi and incubi if Ozzie's stories were to be believed, and very rarely one of Satan's little spawns for truly heavy uses of magic that were connected to anger and revenge. He could count on his hands the number of times someone had actually found a proper ritual that could summon something of his magnitude and could count on two fingers the number of times they had actually intended it to be him.

That all said, being pulled very suddenly out of the hotel and getting tossed tea kettle over biscuits through time and space while in the middle of working? How very rude!

Worse, the summons all but dumped him out onto the ground without nearly the fanfare and reverence that would be considered respectful to someone of his authority. His head rang with the aftermath, making Lucifer groan as he sat up, rubbing his head. ]

Kids these days don't know how to summon with a little respect-

[ As he opened his eyes, he blinked in surprise to see someone else there, fairly close. On immediate glance, it looked like a human, but his senses quickly set that straight. So he looked around, saw no one else, then looked with confusion to the other. ]

Did, ah... did you summon me? [ Said the strange short man in a pink and white striped vest and crimson spots on his cheeks. ]

[1926]

[Well. That was a new one. Weird. He tasted holy in the air, but this one also tasted remarkably... demon.]

They haven't summoned with respect for a good century or two now. [The ginger bemoaned. But the question gave him pause.]

Me? Good Heaven's no! [He made a face like he'd just tasted something unpleasant. Or, perhaps, a word left an unpleasant taste on his tongue.] Got caught up in this whole thing, same as you, I reckon. ...not sure how that could happen, though. To pull me requires a very specific sigil. [Behind dark glasses, ochre serpent eyes flicked up and down over the white skinned... demon?]

[thisducks]

Ah. [ A small sound of knowing, or at least understanding. Strange, but now at least he had a guess about this fellow! ] Who do you serve? [ The look up and down was judging, then cautiously- ] One of Satan's, perhaps? [ He thought he could feel a certain anger behind this one, but either way, he had to admit the other had a point.

So Lucifer began to walk the circle, surprised at the strength of it. It took a rare mortal to be able to create this sort of summoning, but then again they often tended towards magic that they had no real concept of. ...Or an imp decided to leave behind something they shouldn't have leading to a whole 'fun' chaos that needed to be sorted. ]

Mm, mm, mm... sigil, sigil, where are you... ah! [ He crouched down and shook his head, looking down at a particular marking. ]

Bingo was his name-o.

[1926]

[That question felt like a trap. And as such, something in Crowley's lanky frame went from lazy annoyance to a bit defensive and closed off. If this guy didn't know who he was, by some miracle, maybe it was best to keep it that way.]

Wh-uhh... you could say that. Don't we all serve Satan? Hail Satan, and all that...

[He looked over the strange man's shoulder as he muttered, searching for a symbol. Crowley wanted to distract him, but quickly the other pinpointed the serpent sigil and the demon made a halted sound in the back of his throat.]

Mn... yeah, well, uh, it's been fun, but I should get going. [Whatever the other man was, (nephilim?) he didnt want to stick around to see the realisation dawn on the other's face. So he tried to feel out the circle for any weaknesses... He could get out if he could scratch out the serpent sigil anchoring him there, power in a name and all that, but he couldn't erase his own sigil. Magic had rules, after all, and if a demon could just break free by removing their own name, it would be a rather lousy binding spell. Keep your tone casual, Crowley...] mind just... uh, erasing that little sigil there so I can pop off? Just point out yours and I'll repay the favour.

[thisducks]

Oh, oh fuck no. He might be the ruler of his own Ring, but the man is obsessed with working out. The last time we had any sort of conversation, I literally fell asleep listening to him talk utter nonsense about 'gains' and 'hit' and 'reps' and 'doms'. Not the sort of doms I know, but that's besides the point...

[ His nose wrinkled as he looked down at the sigil, studying the circle around them. There... was a potential method he could use to free himself, but it likely wouldn't go down very well with this poor Hellborn stuck here with him.

Until he claimed the sigil as his own.

Lucifer looked up to the other, raising a brow giving him a deadpan look. ] Oh, very funny. [ Then, studying the other more, the corner of his mouth lifted. ] Did someone put you up to this? ...I swear if this is one of Mammon's pranks I will repay him for it twofold, but I'll give him points for this being one of his more creative attempts.

[1926]

[The initial reaction boggled him. Well, he wasnt going to look a gift horse in the mouth, but he hadn't known Lucifer to get into working out lately. ...oh hell! Was he trying to get stronger to reboot the apocalypse? Fuckfuckfuck--

But the next reaction detailed that thought entirely in a monumental train crash. He didnt blink often, out of not needing to with his serpentine eyes, but he was left blinking owlishly at the other. He tipped his head slightly and the black shades concealing his eyes slid down his nose so he could look over the rims at the other.]

Uhh... Look, mate... Mammon didn't put me up to anything. I don't know how to tell you this, but that's me. Eden's Serpent. [A snake like tongue poked out with a subtle flick to drive the point home.]

[thisducks]

[ Well, now they were blinking at each other in equal confusion. When the other revealed the edges of his eyes and the tongue, it turned Lucifer's expression into pure surprise. So in silent reply, he did the same thing in turn, flicking the tip of his own fork-tipped tongue. ]

That is my sigil. ...I wouldn't call myself Eden's Serpent, though people have favored the whole snake thing... I talked to them in my true-

[ Why was he saying any of this- who was this guy?! ]

Who are you? [ Now with far less of his jovial tone and one more defensive while simultaneously biting. This wasn't funny any more. ]

[1926]

[.........

Give Crowley a moment.

Sure, all demons in Hell had traits that reflected them in some way. It was why, even in this corporation, his serpent eyes couldn't be hidden by magic. But this was just too much. He got a closer look at the sigil the other was looking at and beside the serpent was another he'd just... overlooked.]

Anthony J. Crowley. ...who are you? [There was a weird, sinking feeling in his gut that he wasn't going to like this answer. Not if that sigil was anything to go by... This wasn't Lucifer. He knew Lucifer. Did Lucifer have another kid? Did Adam have a brother now?]

[thisducks]

[ What an oddly... mortal sounding name. Lucifer's second brow lifted to join the first before he straightened up further. This clearly wasn't someone human, nor angel, and yet he couldn't quite pin down what the other felt like other than 'demonic', which was why he assumed he was a Hellborn.

Crowley really wasn't going to like this answer. ]

Lucifer.

[ But getting a better look at the sigils explained a few things. There was overlap - now which one they meant was another question, but foolish humans weren't want to throw down any symbols they thought had power without understanding what they truly would mean. ]

You look so... human. [ Well. Mostly. The eyes were quite the show weren't they? ]

[1926]

[The former angel bristled at the name, taking an involuntary step back. Just gonna stand on THIS side of the holding circle, thanks.]

You're not--ngk! Wh-what? No. Nonono. No.

[The urge to retreat was strong! But the next comment stayed his panic a bit.]

Human? I can't very well walk among them otherwise... I've been living on Earth for six thousand years. Be a bit obvious if I walked around sporting my wings, wouldn't it? Or worse yet, as the snake form I was cursed to.

[thisducks]

[ They unknowingly had that in common as well. However, he was surprised to see the other's reaction and frowned at the intensity of it and more so, the nonsense this man was spitting! Lucifer crossed his arms over his chest, tapping the toe of his boot against the floor of the circle holding them. ]

They... let you walk among the humans. [ Statement and question, with his brows knitting together. ]

...and you're considerably younger than me. [ His lips pressed together before he gestured with a finger. ]

Alright, I'll bite. What's with this whole... snake thing?

[1926]

Let. [The ginger scoffed. Well, at first, it was an order. But over the centuries, he'd really grown to like it. So, maybe he was being 'let' walk among them after he'd grown so keen on the weird little blue-green marble.] Those were my orders. Go up and cause a little trouble. Sway souls and all that. ...is this some kind of test? Because whatever game you're playing at, I'm not biting.

[No, seriously, what was going on?! After a beat, he shifted, his form melding from humanoid like playdough. Skin became glossy black and red scales, golden eyes stared back at Lucifer as the serpent coiled around himself on the other side of the circle. When he spoke, his mouth didn't move, but a hiss carried words.]

The form I wasssss cursed to take when I Fell. Upon thy belly ssssshalt thou go, and dusssst sssshalt thou eat all the daysss of thy life. Or ssssome nonssssensssse like that.

[thisducks]

Sway souls? ...Sway soul to what? Be less shitty? Go up... from where? [ His head pulled back with wide eyes, pointing at Crowley. ] What game I'm playing?? What game are you playing--

[ Aaaaaand then that turned into the most unnerving shapeshifting he had ever seen, making his nose briefly wrinkle before the snake said a word that unnerved him even more deeply. ]

...Fell. You... were an angel, too. [ Was this some mockery of him? Every word unsettled him further.

Eden's Serpent.

Fine. If that was the game they were playing-

In a poof! of golden glittery magic, Lucifer changed.

...Why did everything have to be bigger than him? ]

[1926]

[The serpent was so confused. Lucifer should damn well know he'd been sent to earth to encourage sin!]

Of courssssse I Fell! I-- [The snake was getting huffy, making little puffy snake sounds when he spoke. But hey, if it helped, Luci, Crowley was just a massive serpent in general. The little white leucistic serpent was... cute.] ...I assssked too many quesssstionsss.

What are you really? You're, [The black tongue tasted the air.] sssstill holy.

[The serpent didn't much enjoy this form. So, with another thought and disquieting shift, he pulled back into a more humanoid shape again, dusting off his jacket.]

[thisducks]

[ WHO THE FUCK NEEDED TO ENCOURAGE IT? They can't STOP it! Go encourage a few people to be less shit so hell could stop being as full as it was!

But Lucifer poofed back, realizing what Crowley was suggesting. He hadn't felt anything holy from the other. ]

You Fell... but you don't feel holy. That's why I assumed you were one of the Hellborn. [ His arms returned to being crossed over his chest, debating with himself. This wasn't exactly something he enjoyed discussing, but this needed to be cleared as nothing added up! ]

A Fallen angel, if you need to be dramatic about it. The Devil, but frankly I think most people imagine Satan when they think of 'the devil' rather than me. The Ruler of Hell and every other fancy title that people like to give it, as if I chose to be in charge of the place.

[ Crowley had sensed on the air the holy blood that lived within him, but it didn't feel like an angel, even a high angel. Something that turned the sweet-honey taste of the truly angelic bitter.

...Lucifer certainly fit no visual description of angel, devil, demon, or any namesake that had been brought up tonight, other maybe than the color of his eyes and those sharp teeth. ]

[1926]

[If anything, Lucifer looked more like an angel except for the eyes.]

Of course I don't! Everything holy was burned out of me on my way down. [Guess who also doesn't like talking about the Fall? Just guess. He liked to shrug it off, but much like a couple of the Sins Lucifer knew, he hadn't wanted to Fall. It had just... happened.] Twisted into... something not.

[Crowley worked his jaw, listening to Lucifer, not sure he liked this at all. He couldn't see the lie here. Even if he could, he couldn't see the reason for it.]

...you can't be him. I know him. He's not... whuhhh... well, he's not this! [Crowley gestured with both hands at Lucifer in his entirety.] You sound more like-- [Like him. He sounded a bit like Crowley...] If this is some weird punishment for stopping the End Times, you're going about it all wrong. ...but I'm not going to give you bloody tips on how to terrorise me! So forget I said anything...

[Sorry, Luci. He's still a bit on edge, even if he WANTS to like you. It just feels like a trap.]

[thisducks]

[ What had been taken from his physical form was minor compared to what he had lost within. Heaven had taken up the spear and in the process, taken from him the worst thing of all - hope. ]

...You sound like one of my fellow Sins. [ Ironically, Satan, or perhaps Leviathan. The ones who had, along with Mammon, likely lost any part of what made them holy once.

But with those words, Lucifer admits something else, if Crowley had the knowledge to put it together... that and the lack of panic. But what this supposed Fallen angel was saying was starting to be almost insulting as much as it was confusing. ]

Whoa, whoa there! What- I'm not going to terrorize you! I don't even know you! And I am me and I'd remember another Fallen! What are you talking about, the End Times? You just keep spouting... nonsense!

[1926]

Fellow Sin? [Okay, what? He often touted jokingly that he was the original sin, but this sounded more literal. Something was off. Not off in a 'Heaven or Hell is fucking with him' kind of off, but off in an... off... way.]

...one of us doesn't belong here. Or maybe neither of us do? Some things aren't adding up. You'd remember another Fallen? How could you keep track? How many of us Fell from your Heaven?

[He could taste it now. He should have tasted it before. That slight flavour... it was off. This man wasn't angel or demon that he knew. He wasn't Lucifer, at least not that he knew. But that magic... That sweet, crisp, apple flavour in the air. It wasn't from around here.]

[thisducks]

[ Finally, something they could agree on. Even if he didn't quite follow the other's line of thinking, he couldn't help but think he was right that one of them didn't belong... here.

Lucifer looked around the circle, then added dryly- ] Frankly I'm not sure if either of us belongs here- [ with an indication of the circle ] -but nothing is adding up so far.

[ So, with a deep breath. ] After I Fell, several others disagreed with the court's decision. Those that spoke up for me... they were cast out - three of them. Another three were disgusted by Heaven's choices and Fell on their own. Seven of us in total... no more. ...or no more that survived the Fall.

[ Sins. Seven of them in total. ]

Did- are you suggesting you're the only one who Fell?

[1926]

What? No. Nothing like that. So. Seven of you. The seven deadly sins. [He was quiet for a moment, debating his words.] Hundreds fell. Some openly defied Heaven, others just... were too curious and that's apparently a crime. Everyone who so much as raised an eyebrow at Her word was cast out of Heaven.

[Sorry, hasn't he explained?]

One of us was pulled through the cracks, I think. You or... me. If I discorporate, that would send me back, I'm certain. Without a body, I can't be here. But that would send me right back to Hell and all of Hell wants me exterminated. So, that's not an option.

[thisducks]

Hundreds..!

[ The very idea of hundreds of angels being cast from Heaven was completely incomprehensible to Lucifer. There weren't even that many to be cast out! He would safely assume there was now a days, but then again Crowley seemed to be younger... wait. ]

...Her? Whom do you speak of? And dare I ask why Hell wants you- [ That word. It sent a shiver down his spine to suggest in this way. ] exterminated? It sounds like you've pissed off pretty much everyone, Anthony.

[ Well, it was the same given to him! ]

[1926]

[Something sparkled in ochre eyes. That spark of curiosity that got him in so much trouble in Heaven. It had never left him, not fully.]

Her. Creator of all. You... do have... well, you know, a Creator? [That was something Crowley never lost. Something Aziraphale liked to point out from time to time and it frustrated him. He'd never fully lost his love for Her, even if he felt a bit--monumentally--betrayed.] Well, everyone except the one angel who matters. And I think I'm quite good with Earth. I helped stop the great war. The apocalypse. I rather like humanity. Couldn't just let Heaven and Hell have their pissing contest here and destroy all the marvels humans have created. Kind of gets one put on the terrorist list for Heaven and Hell. They say I've gone native.

[Someone was not as evil as he likely first seemed...]

[thisducks]

[ Crowley wasn't the only one. Lucifer leaned forward, and while this was usually one of the topics he would never discuss, hearing such a different existence and yet similar in other ways had him curious as anything. There was so much information to take apart in just those few sentences! ]

...yes. My- Father. [ The look away, the grit of his teeth, the tone of his voice suggested that Lucifer's relationship with his creator was considerably different. ] I stopped a war that might have consumed all of Heaven and Hell, though it sounds like in very different fashion. Humanity has yet to prove itself to me it's worth anything at all, but my daughter? Well. She believes they can be redeemed. [ Look at that brief proud papa smile. ]

Do you have any kids of your own?

[1926]

[Something in Crowley melted at the mention of a daughter. Sure, he'd met Adam, even liked the kid. He'd proven to be a champion for humanity in the end, even without their interference. Just letting him grow up human had been enough. But this Lucifer had a daughter? And she believed in humanity too?]

Spend some time with them. Sure, there's good ones and bad ones, but apparently that goes for angels too. I know one. He's really the only good one, in my opinion, but I wouldn't give him up for anything. Thought I had once... [His expression fell at that memory. But he shook his head.]

Kids? No. Not... I mean. Not of my own. Can't. Don't have the bits for that. Not real ones, anyway. But I've... I've raised human kids. [There was a bittersweetness there as well. Part of being immortal was watching mortals grow up. ...grow old. And then the loss.] What's your daughter's name?