The Low Hanging Fruit [for ontheair/thelittleapple]

[thisducks]

continuation from this bakerstreet meme

[ And Alastor lands on the thing that Lucifer has wanted to do, again and again. It feeds into his beliefs, the endless shadows and demons that speak whispers into his thoughts, the plague of Humanity's evils that his fellow angels had cursed him to always know.

But then his daughter had held out her hand, telling him her lofty dream, golden and bright, and asked him to believe in it. All he wants is to support her, to make the only thing he ever made that he could be proud of shine as brightly as she can. It just... doesn't stop the reality of his life. ]

Leaving would hurt her more. Being here brings my name to the hotel. [ For all that he's certain he doesn't quite live up to said name, he does as well as he can. More so, it's not really the truth.

He's scared they'll come for her. With Adam's attempt on Charlie's life, the Accord he set with Heaven is broken- the Hellborn are no longer safe.

Nothing, not even himself, will stop him from defending her. She is worth everything to him. More than anything. ]

Comments

[thisducks]

[ Her hugs do help, even if maybe less so with the guilt in his chest that he is somewhat lying to her. Maybe he can make it up by actually trying these silly exercises with-- OH- ]

You uh, might want to let him finish eating first, sweetie! Come back in a bit so he can finish in peace and then you can launch these... ideas?

[thelittleapple]

[That definitely dampens her enthusiasm, because she can only think of one reason why her Dad wouldn't want her to disturb Alastor while he's eating, and it makes her expression fall into something a bit nauseous.]

He's not eating... something gross, is he?

[She can't quite bring herself to ask if he's got Sinner meat on his plate again, even though Vaggie had yelled at him never to do that again.]

[thisducks]

...Well, I didn't want to stick around to watch him eat it.

[ Half-truth! Lying to his daughter feels uncomfortable, but at least it'll give Alastor time to calm down and come to terms with the curse on him before she goes and riles him up ]

Give him an hour, I think.

[thelittleapple]

Right, copy that!

[She flashes him a thumbs up, half enthusiastic and half awkward.]

I have some props and things I need to make for the two of you anyway! Oh, this is the best! Once you and Alastor have done the exercises, you can report back on which ones worked best and which ones didn't, and then next time there's two people that hate... have... that have some tension, I'll know exactly what to do!

1/4

[thisducks]

Some what now?

[ Lucifer's face falls into something almost like horror for a second, trying to process what Charlie just said to him. ]

2/4

[thisducks]

[ Then goes into further horror realizing what his first thoughts were and how that is ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY not what Charlie could have meant WHY DID HE THINK THOSE FIRST- ]

3/4

[thisducks]

S-SURE!

4/4

[thisducks]

[ Too loud! He clears his throat and his expression but his smile is janky. ] Whatever you say! We'll do just that!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some- important business to see to so I can- er- take some time later to do your wonderful exercises!

[ And climb into a deeper, darker pit than the one he currently lives in called Hell! Super Hell! For idiots who think with the wrong brain for a second! ]

[thelittleapple]

[Thankfully for all involved, she has NO IDEA where her father's mind just went, and so she's just confused by the sudden weirdness between them. What was that expression of horror all about? Is he that worried about spending time alone with Alastor doing these exercises?

She'll have to impress on Alastor how important it is that they give these things a proper try, and how much she'd appreciate it if they both gave it their all.]

Oh... okay?

[WHAT IMPORTANT BUSINESS? HE LITERALLY JUST GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL!]

Maybe we can have breakfast together tomorrow?

[thisducks]

[ THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF FINDING A HOLE TO CRAWL IN, DEAR! ]

Oh- breakfast! Yeah! [ His eyes light up at the idea of spending some quality time with Charlie, even if it's a touch hard to look her in the eyes right now. ]

What time? I'll set an alarm!

[ An alarm he doubts he'll need, given recent insomnia, but he WILL make it on time! ]

[thelittleapple]

[She checks her watch and-- good grief when did it get to be nearly two in the morning? Suppose they've had a long night, what with some deeply emotional talks, and then her Dad having a late night argument with Alastor, and now this.]

Um, is eight too early for you?

[She knows that's only six hours from now, but she can't exactly push breakfast much later and still be on time for morning group sessions.]

[thisducks]

[ Whips out his cell phone - or he'll forget to set the alarm all together - and dismissing his cane, goes about setting an alarm for- well fifteen minutes should be fine! Just breakfast, after all! ]

And done! I'll meet you in the kitchen at eight. [ Maybe he can even sneak in a little power nap in those hours! Maybe. All too likely, that entire conversation with Alastor will reply again and again, over analyzed and turned into a weapon against himself. ]

Go get some sleep, please? [ He has to give her a little tug down to kiss her forehead, like he would when she was a toddler. ] Good night.

[thelittleapple]

[The kiss to her forehead makes her expression soften all the way, and she gives him a return kiss on the cheek before letting him head to his room. For sleep. Right, Dad? Right?

Charlie doesn't sleep, she has too much to do.

She waits the requisite hour and then goes looking for Alastor, and has a very confusing conversation with him where he seems to be picking his words excessively carefully. He's even more evasive than he usually is, and that's saying something. But she manages to pin him down to agreeing to partake in the exercises by appealing to his need to outdo her Dad (if they're going to have this stupid rivalry, she'll use it to her advantage).

Then it's prep time!

By the time eight rolls around, she has a big box full of props and instructions, and she's looking a little wild eyed from exhaustion. But she's in the kitchen as promised, checking her watch every few seconds.

He's going to come, right? Ha... silly, of course he'll come, he wouldn't stand her up. Would he?]

[thisducks]

[ Heh, sleep, sure! ...Heh... no. Not in the slightest. Instead, he at least manages a shower and clean clothing, but time alone in his room does nothing good for his head. The alarm does prove useful though! He absolutely won't stand up his baby girl!

(In the mean while, Vaggie is less than happy because she darn well knows Charlie didn't sleep, and even though she knows why, when Charlie is in one of these obsessed modes, even her coaxing doesn't get through.)

So eight on the dot, he comes in through the door out into the kitchen, looking just fine and dandy so long as no one looks too close beneath his eyes. ]

Goooood morning, Charlie!

[ It's a front - it's always a front - but it's easier to be this than reality. ]

[thelittleapple]

[Charlie is a bit less put together. Her ponytail has some sticking out strands, her clothes are a bit rumpled, and she shares the same dark shadows under her eyes as her father.

But she also shares his wide smile.]

Dad!

[Hopefully she only sounds welcoming and not relieved, she doesn't want him to know she was concerned he wouldn't come.]

I thought we could go out for breakfast! I know it's been a... liiiiittle while for you... and there's a lot of great new places nearby."

[thisducks]

You- you want to go out for breakfast?

[ That completely throws him off his game, his face falling before he manages to catch it, looking uncertain about the idea. ]

I... don't know if that's a good idea... [ It always proves to be awkward to go out among the masses - people expect things of him, they start falling over one another to introduce themselves and bow and scrape, he has to act a certain way...

Nevermind that it makes him uncomfortable over all after years of not being around, well, anyone. ]

i am SO sorry for the wait on this, i hope you're okay continuing <3

[thelittleapple]

[She reaches out to try and clasp his hands with her own, her smile turning from a manic sleep deprived mess to something gentler and more encouraging.]

It's not far from the hotel, and they sell really nice pancakes.

[It'll be good for him to get out more, right?]

And if it's too much, we can come back any time.

You're fine! ^^

[thisducks]

...pancakes?

[ The idea of breakfast with Charlie and pancakes works at his uncertainty, making him chew on his lower lip before he slumps forward as if in defeat. ]

Okay. I- let's do breakfast.

[ Even if he looks uncertain about the whole thing, he manages the smallest of smiles for her and her alone. ]

♥♥♥

[thelittleapple]

[It makes her heart ache a little that something as small as breakfast outside could make him sag like this, like it's a battle that he's already lost.]

We can even go incognito! You'd be amazed how many people won't recognise us.

[She's rarely recognised.]

Would that make it easier?

[thisducks]

I- No, it'll be okay. A chance to spend time with you is worth it.

[ This? This is everything Lucifer hasn't wanted her to see. What loneliness and depression and betrayal have done. When Lilith had been at his side, he had been able to bear the old wounds of the past that would never heal, sometimes even forget about them completely. Charlie had brought such a joy to his life that for a time, the wounds nearly felt like they disappeared.

Until- well. Until they both were left alone, and he knows he failed her. ]

Shall we? [ He offers his arm to her, bringing up a bigger smile to relieve her heart. ]

[thelittleapple]

[It breaks her heart a little to see just how nervous he is for something as simple as going out for breakfast-- how many years since he last actually walked among his people? Had he ever been comfortable among them?

Maybe that explains why he had been so reluctant to see Sinners could reform, because he's never allowed himself to spend time with them individually? She needs to help with this, she's sure that a few little trips will boost his confidence.

So she takes that arm, her smile still soft and knowing.]

Remember what we just talked about, Dad? Don't pretend... it's okay to be nervous.

[She wants to be there for the good and bad, not just be another burden on him to placate. A brief hesitation, and then a much softer question to try and understand a little better.]

What is it that you're nervous of?

[thisducks]

[ Not a single day had he ever been comfortable among- well, people, not since his Fall. All that came to Hell were horrible people who did horrible things, and the innocence and naive hope that had been his existence before had been destroyed. When Lilith had been at his side, she had enough confidence for them both and he could manage to be out with her among people, but that didn't mean comfortable.

Once she was gone, he'd been done.

And now here's Charlie ready to take him out on a daddy-daughter breakfast. ]

I- I don't really want to get into it... it's- complicated. [ He chews on the inside of his cheek, gesturing a little. ] To do with, you know. The past.

[thelittleapple]

[Her instinct is to push him to open up, but... this isn't one of her workshops for Sinners, and she's had a few harsh lessons in boundaries over the last few months. So instead she just squeezes the arm in hers tightly, affectionately.]

If you don't want to get into it, that's okay. But-- you know you can get into it any time, right? It doesn't matter how complicated it is, I'll listen.

[It's a relatively nice day out in Hell, the sky is clear and the temperature is only just on the wrong side of too-warm. The streets are relatively full of Sinners already of all shapes and sizes, and Charlie is already beaming and waving at them with her free hand.]

Good morning~! Hello there!

Get fucked, bitch!

Haha-- and a lovely rest of your day to you too!

[thisducks]

[ Even the oldest of the sinners that are around don't have the amount of time he's had to handle everything that's happened and a whole lot of avoidance in doing so. Opening up to Charlie even as much as he has? That's been incredibly difficult. But, hey, he's trying. For her.

It isn't just complicated as much as... painful. Down to his core painful. Things he hadn't been able to discuss with anyone beyond the one who had witnessed much of it herself.

But he walks at her side from the hotel and onto the street, which he slowly started to relax even as they came up sinners because nothing seemed to be happening-

And then someone calls his daughter a bitch.

Lucifer's head snaps in that direction, nostrils flaring. WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CALL HER? It's written clear across his face, hand tightening on his cane.

Charlie, damage control before he does some damage of his own! ]

[thelittleapple]

[Charlie honestly doesn't even notice being called a bitch. Sinners say a lot of things out and about, usually with many profanities, and often with some kind of crude offer or gesture. It's fine, she knows they're just surviving however they can, and underneath it they all have the potential to become better.

So she doesn't realise at first where the tension comes from, though she follows his line of sight and pretty quickly catches on, patting his arm soothingly.]

It's okay, really. I don't mind, and at least he replied! Which means he might look back on this later as a positive interaction and remember it, it's all about spreading those first little seeds.

[Said Sinner has also noticed himself being glared at and glares right back. Who do you think you are, tiny man? Then that glare turns to a sleezy sort of smile-- fine, glare at him, and he'll take your date!]

You really want a 'positive interaction'? I can show you all about how to spread some seed. Real positively.

[Oh. Disaster.

Charlie flushes a bit and shakes her head, pulling on her Dad's arm with a frantic sort of energy.]

Noooo. No, no... thanks for the, um, kind offer, but. No. Ahaha... We have to be going now.

[TUGGING THAT ARM. DO NOT ENGAGE.]