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

[thelittleapple]

[...oh.

She just stares wide-eyed for a moment at the golden light that slashes across his cheek and disappears as soon as it appeared, her fingertips touching unblemished skin where she had been cut only a second before. Sometimes, despite everything, he still amazes her with what he can do.

But she waves off the question as unimportant-- it's not like she was grievously wounded, it was just a cut, and she thinks maybe the Alastor thing is more important.]

You didn't tell Alastor that?

[Confusion, and just a bit of hurt, before she scrambles for an explanation.]

What did you say? Maybe... maybe he misunderstood?

[thisducks]

[ His hand pulls away only once he's certain that the cut is entirely gone, but the hand grips tight into a fist as he thinks back to their conversation. His nostrils flare as he says tightly- ]

He was supposed to tell you that you could come to me any time you needed me. This wasn't a misunderstanding.

[ Bless her ability to believe the best in anyone, but this only sealed in his mind that there is nothing good in that demon. ]

I should have told you myself. [ But that anger trembles in his voice, in the flare of fire in his eyes. ]

[thelittleapple]

[...yeah, that's not a misunderstanding, and not even she can pretend that it is. Not when she knows Alastor is smarter than that, and the animosity between the two of them... still, it hurts a bit to have been caught in the crossfire.]

It doesn't matter.

[One arm crosses over her stomach so she can hold the other, pulling a smile to her lips.]

We've got it sorted out now, there's no need to escalate it further, right?

[thisducks]

There won't need to be when I'm done with him!

[ This is angry Lucifer. Not annoyed, not being petty, not ruffled feathers, but truly angry. The edges of horns threaten over his brow, his teeth baring. ]

How DARE he... that pretentious piece of shit..!

[thelittleapple]

Dad!

[She catches his arm, frowning. Not at him, exactly, at the situation. She wants to mediate, but she's learned from her experiences that sometimes people need to work their own problems out.]

I'm not going to tell you not to be angry or not to talk to Alastor, conflict resolution is an important part of growing as people, but don't hurt each other. Please. You're both important to me, so-- maybe this could be your chance to find a way to work past your differences?

[thisducks]

[ If he has a choice right now, he IS going to work out his problems with Alastor- with a fist in his face. ]

Excuse me? Charlie, he lied to you on purpose! This isn't a difference we need to work out, this is a fundamental problem in that asshole's brain! Your other little friends- there's a good part in them, and they've even managed to show it- but time and time again all I see is everything that's wrong about sinners practically shining like a neon sign right above his head!

[thelittleapple]

There is good in him, I know there is.

[It's a lot harder to find than in some others, and sometimes she finds herself struggling to believe, but she knows she's seen flickers of it.]

And yes, okay, he lied too. And that-- it hurts. But so did Sir Pentious when he first came to the hotel, and even Vaggie lied. It's-- it happens, and we need to give him a chance to apologise and do better.

[thisducks]

Any attempt Alastor's going to make at 'apologizing' is him lying through his teeth and knowing he's manipulating you in the process! Charlie- I don't know what to tell you, sweetie. Even if there was some kind of tiny percentage of good in that guy, it's overriden so much by every other terrible thing he does that you can't hold up the few good actions for anything!

I can even *guess* the sort of thing he'd say! 'Oh, I didn't want to see you hurt, my dear~' - bam! More manipulation!

[ He is practically ready with the shotgun at this point, staring down this blatant disregard for Charlie's heart. ]

[thelittleapple]

Weeeeell... maybe that's true?

[It does sound like the sort of thing Alastor would say, and maybe in his own twisted Radio Demon way it was true. Maybe he was looking out for her by not wanting her to be upset by the sight of her Dad in distress?]

But even if it's not, he's helped the hotel a lot! He's helped me a lot, and he didn't have to do any of it!

[Just... rubbing a hand on her forehead now.]

I think it's important you two do speak, and I definitely agree he should apologise, but then you two can move past it and work together. Or try to. Please.

[thisducks]

[ More and more, Lucifer is certain that every single thing Alastor has done is purely in his own favor. There's no altruistic neuron in that demon's entire body, only ones he can display as such to further his schemes. I'm not going to let you keep hurting her, sinner. I'm stopping this game right. now. ]

If that's what you want, Charlie... [ Fine. He'll have a 'talk' with Alastor. Just one-on-one. He'll make damn sure that Alastor knows to never pull this shit AGAIN. ]

Why don't you let me get a shower and do a few things, and I'll come by the hotel this evening, mm?

[thelittleapple]

Thanks, Dad.

[Her smile is bright and brilliant, thankful to him for being the bigger man and willing to support her dream by trying to get on with even people he doesn't like. She sweeps him into a hug, tight and affectionate.]

You'll-- you'll stay again, won't you? At the hotel?

[thisducks]

[ A proper Charlie-hug is a very, very good anger release method. Lucifer sighs and gives his daughter one in return, feeling some of the immediate rage bleed off. ]

Yes. I'll be staying. ...I'll just make sure to install a shishi-odoshi in my rooms.

[ He is absolutely not above installing them in the whole hotel just to see if they work on Alastor. ]

[thelittleapple]

[She gives a little wobbly chuckle at that, assuming it's definitely a joke. She's relieved they've somehow managed to sort some things out, even if there's still a lot unsaid and a winding road ahead.]

Come and see me when you're back, after you've talked to Alastor, okay?

[One last tight squeeze.]

It doesn't matter how late, I'll be up.

[thisducks]

How about I send you a text, sweetie? Just, you know, to spare Vaggie from getting woken up.

[ Partly a true answer, because the poor dear doesn't need to have her sleep interrupted by all of this, but also just in case Charlie is actually asleep so she can stay there.

Because he will have Alastor in a body bag by that point! ]

I'll be back by the hotel within the hour. Promise.

1/2

[thelittleapple]

...love you, Dad.

[She knows there's still a lot of roadblocks for them to fight past, but she feels more at peace now than she has in weeks.

Kissing him lightly on the cheek, she hesitates a moment more before leaving. It's not been such a bad day after all! She's got her Dad back again, and perhaps even he and Alastor will work out their differences!]

2/2

[ontheair]

[It had been late by the time Charlie left to confront her father to begin with, so by the time she makes it back and Lucifer might be on his way, it's the wee hours of the morning.

Alastor is in the kitchen.

He always waits until the small hours to do his cooking, preferring the solitude and silence, a time he can actually somewhat relax. His cane is propped by the table and his overcoat is carefully folded and placed over the back of one of the chairs. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows and he's lightly humming an old jazz tune as he stirs a deliciously spiced smelling pot of food on the stove.

He's not exactly expecting to be bothered, and especially not by Lucifer.]

[thisducks]

[ Lucifer's return to the Hazbin Hotel is done in silence, returning with only the merest flicker of his power and in short order. With a clean set of clothing, freshly neatened up from a proper shower and some actual self-care, Lucifer is ready to murder 'talk' with a certain someone in the Hotel. So like a predator on the hunt, he makes certain his prey is alone when he decides to make his move.

Too bad, too, because the kitchen smells rather lovely when Lucifer makes his entrance. Who would have guessed that the Radio Demon can cook so well? Lucifer wouldn't trust anything that man cooked anyway.

Wards creep up on every exit in or out of the kitchens - ones diametrically opposed to Alastor's shadows. It comes down like the slamming of a jail cell door, dropping shining golden sigils in the familiar shapes to match the one hovering constantly above Pentagram City over the windows, doors, and locking the kitchen down so there will be no... interruptions. ]

And I thought they called me the serpent in the Garden... turned out we had one right under our noses here at the Hotel.

[ When Lucifer had emerged from the aether is another question, but oh his voice drips with cold anger as he stands there in his fully demonic glory. His wings are neatly tucked behind him, but a thousand eyes stare from every feather, fire blazing above his brows and in his eyes, tail lashing like a whip around his feet.

The devil is pissed. ]

[ontheair]

[Alastor has always been a predator.

Even in life he was the thing that stalked the shadows and took the lives of his victims, never the thing that feared the night and hid from sharp teeth. In death he had become even more so, gifted incredible strength for a new Sinner, casting off the few shackles of propriety and secrecy life had held him to. A monster in the open now, a predator with a sharp smile that all knew to fear.

But for a moment, when shining golden sigils appear and he feels how laughably he is outclassed in power, a raindrop beside the ocean...

For a moment he becomes prey.

His ears pin flat back to his head and his smile takes on the strained quality of a grimace, eyes wide as he meets thousands staring back at him. He has never seen this form-- when Lucifer joined the battle against Adam it had been long after he had already disappeared, and so this is new to him. New and terrifying. New and thrilling.

The second of primal instinctual fear passes and he is able to regain control of himself. He forces his ears back to their usual neutral alert position and deliberately turns his back to continue stirring his pot. He can still feel the power pressing on him from all sides, but he will not give Lucifer the satisfaction of seeing him cower, come what may.]

A deer, actually. If you're looking for a fellow serpent, the portrait of Sir Pentious is just down the hall.

[thisducks]

[ Each step forward is deliberate, fiery eyes unblinking as the rest that pin the other in place. ]

Good thing that venison is on the menu for me tonight then.

[ He licks his lips, a hint of golden blood trickling between his teeth and falling over his chin. Despite his smaller frame, there's the feeling of him being larger than he normally is as he stalks his way forward. His tail sways upward, the spiked tip looking nearly like the serpent he mentioned, like a cobra with its hood flared and ready to strike. ]

You lied to my little girl, little deer.

[ontheair]

Oh? And which lie would that be?

[Flippancy is likely not sensible at all as a response, but he cannot help himself.

Even though the instinct at the base of his skull knows that he's playing with a very real and deadly fire now, he is almost drawn to stoke the blaze further. He belongs here in Pride, truly one of Lucifer's own.]

[thisducks]

[ Upon his fall, Lucifer may have been tainted by the sins that he had unknowingly brought upon humanity, but that doesn't mean he has ever been human. Between one blink and the next, the devil has crossed the space between them. His tail snaps up, wrapping twice around Alastor's throat and clenching as tight as a pair of hands, lifting the other to clear the ground. ]

Don't bullshit me, sinner. You told her I didn't want to see her! I know the game you're playing-- and this is where you lose.

[ontheair]

[He won't disgrace himself by scrabbling his hands at that grip, but even he can't pretend to be totally immune to what's happening. A discordant ebb and flow of dead air waves fills the room and adds an uncomfortable soundtrack to what's happening.]

I see no lie in what I said.

[It's a challenge, the overlay to his voice thicker than before, giving his words a low buzzing quality.]

Unless there's something I'm unaware of, you weren't barred from this hotel or her presence. If you wanted to see her the only thing stopping you was yourself, so it can be surmised you preferred not to.

[thisducks]

[ I knew it. There it is, nearly a duplicate of what he told Charlie Alastor would say about this situation. The devil laughs in reply, a mocking sound, edged in disgust. ]

You really are that predictable! Oh, I am done playing nice with you. You could have done anything you wanted to me, but hurting Charlie?

You fucked up, little deer.

[ Power surrounded Alastor, wrapping around him as surely as his tentacles would his prey on a hunt, but this is something pure and raw and it begins to squeeze inward from every direction simultaneously. Alastor would feel his bones crunching, rearranging, and Lucifer goes from looking up to him, then eye to eye, then smaller. ]

I wonder what sounds a little fawn makes... maybe it'll cry for its mother. Come now, little one- until I decide what to do with you, I think you'll be much cuter like this.

Don't worry, Al. I'll make sure this doesn't burn. [ With a final snap of his fingers, something settles around Alastor's neck, leaving the job finished.

The terrifying Radio Demon stands no more than a few feet tall as a cute, fluffy fawn, complete with a little bow and a leash. ]

[ontheair]

[As he is captured up into the vortex of power that tosses him like a maelstrom, his only thought is anger at himself for miscalculating. No... no, that's not true, there's fear there too. A desperate scrabbling terror, a need to survive, a hatred of the one who holds his chain and forced him on a path that led here.

But he can do nothing.

He cannot help the cry that escapes him as his bones contract and squeeze, head tossed back and sharp teeth open in a rictus snarling grin that's nothing more than a slash of sharp agony. He feels the angelic wound, always hidden beneath his clothes and never fully healed, resonate with the angelic power being used on him to toll like a bell and hurt his distinctly unangelic self.

It's not until the leash snaps into place that he realises what's been done to him, rearing up on his back hooves with fury in his eyes.]

Take it off!

[He hears his own words as a furious snarl, but he can also hear a humiliating bleat exit his mouth.

No... No, this cannot be.]

[thisducks]

[ Lucifer crouches down, his lips pulled back in a grin but much like Alastor's normal 'smile', his eyes show that the grin is anything but mirthful. ]

What, when you're the one playing with the lives of others, you don't just enjoy it - you relish in it. You savor it. A cat playing with a mouse until the moment its hungry. But when you're the mouse for once... much less fun, isn't it?

[ His grin falls, showing it as the purposeful mask it had been, and he coils the leash between his fingertips. ]

...I won't let you hurt her. You can tell me I'm a horrible person, a worse ruler, and a despicable father and none of it would be wrong, but you've also been playing in a game you don't realize, Alastor. One that started before humanity even existed.