#i am the father of lies; but here lies my truth {lucifer}

[withinycu]

@audaciiae liked for some smut

"Christ Mickey it's a Friday night. Are we really having this conversation now? Come on," Lucifer pulled them in roughly to the small apartment he'd been keeping. It stank faintly of sex and weed and there was buzzing from somewhere in the bowels of the apartment. A sex toy that had been lost but still vibrated away like the sound of flies.

Lucifer sat Michael down on the sofa before retreating to a nearby chair. In the harsh neon light that spilled through the window the father of lies looked boyish and even innocent. "Are you sure you want to . . . I don't know, know about this? I kinda always assumed you were frigid. Which is uh fine. I mean I like fucking but it's not everyone's bag. Samael still hasn't recovered from when he and Lil tried to go at it."

He was rambling out of nerves. He'd always teased Michael, tugged their hair and whispered obscenities in their ear but had never thought it would mean anything or yield more than a rolled pair of eyes.

[dark-side-princess-sims]

I posted a few pics of this lot a while ago on my old simblr, but I had some issues and with almost nothing in my new hood I just started a new game folder. This is the first lot I placed, and I added more to it and took more pics.

This is the cemetery I built for last year's Halloween gift previews, that I had the foresight to save before moving sims onto for safe placement in Chaos Chasm. It’s called “here lies my last fuck” (yes, exactly like that, in all lowercase).

Unfortunately, my last fuck keeps rising from the grave, and I am diligently seeking a method of destroying undead fucks, as I’d like to avoid a future zombie fuckpocalypse.

here lies my last fuck is where celebrities from the 2000s, such as Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, that were popular among sim creators in the early days of TS2 are buried. They appear as ghosts of their original form, with dated/photoskinned CC.

It is rumored that Laegrinna and Velguirie Lucifer, the Devil's daughters, performed a ritual sacrifice of said celebrities to offer up their souls to their father. But nobody knows the truth. May they rest in pieces.

[commenter2]

"Welcome to Heaven" review

Time for a change of scenery and to learn more about Heaven. Spoilers.

Nice to see Vaggie told the truth instead of attempting to lie. I am curious, would that have even worked on Charlie? Does Charlie have a power to tell if people are lying to her, since her father is the “father of lies”?

That was sweet of Vaggie, but there is a lining of “Vaggie sacrifices more for the relationship” idea in my Charlie/Vaggie trailer breakdown here. LUCKILY there hasn’t been much of that as I expected in this season. At least we’ll find out how Vaggie lost her Exorcist title.

CHAGGIE KISS! Wait why’d she kiss her on the eyepatch? Also I’m NOW just wondering if Vaggie DOES still have her left eye, but is covering it up Japanese anime style cause it contains a great Exorcist power?

Here’s Cherri Bomb making an “explosi.. eh I’m not going to finish that lame joke. I do like the new Australian accent they gave her.

I’m not liking where this is going. I feel like this is going to result in a situation like in the pilot where Angel and co. embarrass Charlie’s goal in front of everyone in Heaven. I mean (spoilers based on the HH S1 trailer) something is going to make the next Extermination happen, but I hope it’s something else.

You really should have told the others to behave themselves before leaving Charlie.

A new portrait of Charlie and her parents in the background. It’s hard to make out, so hopefully someone posts a proper version of it soon.

Charlie casually throwing Vaggie through portal XD.

(Pen sees Cherri) knew this was coming here we go. Bet Pen X Cherri shippers are going to enjoy that moment.

Anyone else think the eye symbol at Heaven’s gate is also a reference to the Sheikah Eye from Legend of Zelda?

Saint Peter? With her last name being Morningstar, you think he would realize she is Lucifer’s daughter.

Charlie Morningbreakfast

Cursing is allowed in Heaven. Interesting to know, you think there will be a gag for when someone curses, everyone else covers their ears “Harry Potter Musicals” style?

So angels can take on different forms. Also was it just me or did the old angel’s bird form look like Stella a bit? I did have this theory that touched on the idea of how after fallen angels went to Hell, they would evolve to become different from what those in Heaven look like and create subspecies, and it looks that is true.

The angel finally has a name, Sera. Oh she may sound nice now but wait till we see her evil side! Right there she says, “you are gifted to be here”, life if she wasn’t Lucifer’s daughter she would have been really rude to Charlie.

Even though she says she is the highest of the Seraphim (the highest rank in Heaven’s hierarchy if pic of said topic are any indication) I feel like there is going to be a moral Heaven thing where every angel is treated equal. I thought I bring this up now cause when Sera reveals herself as a villain, I hope later on she becomes an antagonist (replacing Adam) who fights against Charlie’s redemption plan but will have trouble when other Seraphim’s and Archangels side with Charlie.

Sounds like Emily is the Charlie of Heaven XD.

Got some interesting designs like a Hellhound looking creature with hooves and that…thing she is next to. There is also someone that looks a lot like Vaggie but with no mouth, who “COINCIDENLY” has a close eye where Vaggie has an eyepatch.

I think that was a FNAF/Chuck E Cheese mascot band refence there.

MOLLY HOLY CRAP! Looks like we found the motivation to get Angel to redeem himself! I was going to wonder why she was spider looking creature when you think Heaven only has people in human/cute animal like forms, till I saw that crab looking angelic being in the same scene. Also on the bottom right, I think that’s a Sara Bellum from PPG reference.

Again. Sera being rude, though Emily sounds very ally like.

Vaggie being jealous XD

LUTE? Wait does this mean Adam is wearing a mask/helmet/whatever too? I bet he’s fugly under it XD.

Damn the Amazon Prime pause button. It keeps making the video skip ahead instead of doing its job!

OKAY HUGE REVEAL THERE! HOW COME NO ONE ELSE KNOW ABOUT THE EXTERMINATONS? Do the archangels at least know? Either way this could actually be good but I’ll get into that later.

Okay so Sera seems to be one of those “doing bad to do good” kind of characters as she just wants to protect Heaven, explains why she looked so sad in Charlie’s story, but I feel like she will have prejudices too. It also sounds like Adam was the sole person who came up with the Exterminations.

FINALLY confirmation of Vaggie being a former Exorcist! :D… Wait… Oh crap! :(

ADAM GAVE VAGGIE HER NAME! CALLED IT!! https://www.tumblr.com/commenter2/718141081445957632/odd-theory-but-do-you-think-vaggie-got-her-name?source=share

That was a hellborn child! I had suspicions that Exorcist also killed Hellborn demons during the Exterminations (Viv did once say they kill anything that wasn’t indoors) but still its more shocking than knowing it was a correct fact.

I do like that the Extermination scene is a flashback and not taking place in the finale like I predicted.

Also as messed up as what happened to Vaggie, losing her eye and wings (more on that later) at least it led to her instantly meeting Charlie. Hey they are wearing their pilot outfits :D

At least we can look forward to a Vaggie vs. Lute fight in the future.

Since it was shown that Lute was able to wound Vaggie when she was still an angel, my idea from my “Overture” review of the dead Exorcist being killed by one of its own is a little stronger now. I still think someone else like the threat impersonating Lilith did it, but I'm still keeping that as a possibility until we learn more.

If the first human soul to arrive in Heaven doesn’t know what qualifies to get into Heaven, then Charlie redemption plan deserves a chance. It also makes me curious on what the other angels think qualifies. Also again how would Angel be any different than having Adam there.

WAIT WHAT ABOUT ABEL? He was murdered by his brother long before Adam died, what happened to him after he died?

See I told you we’d get another pilot situation, though at least it’s better than last time as Angel did resist for a time. Heck Husk and Sir Pentious should also be considered proof of being able to redeem since Pen was being nice to a degree and Husk was actually trying to help Angel.

Seriously, Adam has been cursing up a storm, yet you react to when Charlie does it? Maybe like us they were just surprised that she can curse, given how good she is.

Looks like I was wrong about the situation leading to pilot vibes. GOOD! Also great to see Angel stand up to Val.

Now that we know that Val’s shirt are his wings, it makes the scene of Niffty ripping a piece off hilarious XD.

This seems enough proof to me that someone can be redeemed, don’t try and change the subject Adam.

So no angelic being in that room properly knows how judging a soul works? While odd, I wonder if this is a result of after what happened to Lucifer, maybe soon after others got sent to Hell for minor things and eventually no one dared to question or go against God’s (or whoever else’s) judgment and now they are at this point where they don’t recall things or fear becoming a fallen angel like Lucifer. I’m (semi) counting this as another one of my ideas coming true, as I did bring the idea of Heaven not knowing how to loosen the restrictions to getting into Heaven.

Though a bit understandable from Charlie’s POV and thankfully she got lucky there, her ranting to Heaven is another time where Charlie should have taken up at least SOME of Vaggie’s words.

So glad to see Adam’s ego and stupidity finally leading to some good for the heroes, as it will be interesting to see how parts of Heaven will react to learning about the Exterminations.

Trailer screen shot. At least I’m glad that Sera isn’t what I thought she was going to be like.

Oh don’t phrase it like that Charlie! You’re making my “Lilith wants to destroy Heaven” theory sound like it could happen :(

Again when looking at that statue of Sera, she looks like Stella. Also if I’m right the other creature is Emily, who I guess can take on the form of a unicorn.

Aww crap Adam revealed Vaggie’s secret. I know I brought up the idea of Charlie and Vaggie’s relationship being tested, but I just meant personality wise not this, mostly cause I though Charlie already knew. Then again Charlie can be an idiot at times. Hopefully Charlie can be mature about this and thinking back to the trailer, the two do loving sing to each other, heck looks like Vaggie gets her wings back. So yeah, I’m guessing that they will be fine and their relationship will be stronger than ever.

Seriously Sera, after what you see your going to still allow Adam to do the Extermination. Then again she might not have a choice here. This is quickly confirmed with Sera expressing the “Angels scared of suffering the same fate as Lucifer” idea I brought up. Also obviously we need something to continue the series.

So Sera and Emily ARE mother and daughter, I was starting to wonder. Actually speaking of family and thinking back to “Queen Bee”, Bee brought up the question of how fallen angels and such are related, I wonder how related Lucifer and Sera are. Could Charlie and Emily be cousins? If they are, then Vaggie won’t have to worry about Charlie leaving her XD.

At least Charlie has her first angelic ally. I wonder if what Sera said and Emily clenching her fist IS foreshadowing her fate? If my idea of her being able to transform into a horse comes true, what if her demon horse form takes on the form of the horse at the end of the Spindlehorse credits.

Aw man we’re not going to see how Charlie feel about this or more importantly,

Whew that was intense near the end. We got to see Heaven and learned some big things about it like the residents such as Molly being there or how angels have NO IDEA how judging a soul works. Then there was a big reveal that no one before the events here even knew about the Exterminations, that was a great twist if not a bit odd.

It was also great to learn more about Vaggie’s now confirmed past and be introduced to Emily and how she agrees with Charlie’s thoughts instead, making the argument less one sided. It was also funny seeing how she and Charlie got along so well which led to Vaggie being jealous at one point. Hopefully for her, Emily and Charlie turn out to be cousins.

It was nice having Cherri be in the episode, even if she almost led to Angel doing bad things and getting Charlie in trouble again. Speaking of which, it was GREAT to see that Angel HAS changed since joining Charlie. Hopefully if he learns that Molly is there, a great cameo BTW, he will amp that up to 11.

I also personally liked how stupid Adam looked in it, and now that people know the truth about Exterminations, I think it could lead to him being demoted (both related to Heaven's hierarchy and as a main antagonist in the series) and my idea of Charlie being the “chosen one” to save everyone from a great threat or the idea I have for what season 2 could be about.

The only downsides were that this was kind of the expected outcome given the episode’s place. Maybe if this was the 2nd to last episode and the finale was an hour long, it could have helped but I’m not complaining.

It was also a bummer that we didn’t see more of how Charlie feels about discovering Vaggie was an angel. At least the S1 trailer makes it clear that thing between them will be fine in the end.

The things about no one knowing about the Exterminations, or what the qualifications to get into Heaven really are, but I’m not complaining. This is actually a perfect excuse for my season finale epilogue idea where after the Extermination, Heaven agrees with Charlie and they need to rework or explore the qualifications required to get into Heaven, and Charlie plans on having a big say in it so that more people can get into Heaven whether it be after they die or through her hotel. Of course some people of Hell and Heaven will be against Charlie’s ideas, so Charlie will have to go through a multi-season storyline where she needs to keep convincing more and more powerful people that this would be a good thing, eventually having to convince God himself. All the while evil forces will try and progress its/their agenda, leading to big fights.

Now we wait for the season finale.

As always let me know your thoughts about the episode.

[shannara810]

"It's a new world, Raphael".

Indeed.

Your return to the world of the living is a succession of new faces and new rules. Nothing is familiar to you, not even Heaven.

You open your eyes to the kind smile of a child? Nephilim? You're not sure. You can feel your Father's power inside him, together with something that resembles you; yet nothing makes sense.

You were dead. You're sure of this, but for how long you don't know. You died fighting for your family but it seems that what you did didn't matter, because everything you know doesn't exist anymore.

Everything... except Castiel.

He is there, glaring at you and murmuring rushed words to this child. Words you do not need to struggle to understand. The child stops him with a hand and smiles at you.

"Hello, Raphael. I am Jack. And Castiel is my dad... well, one of them. I freed you from the Empty because we need your help. Heaven is crumbling down and we need all the power we can get to repair it".

There's truth in this child's words, but something is still amiss. You're confused and suspicious and a thousand questions burn your mind.

"Where's Father?"

"Chuck..."

Chuck? The Prophet?

"I can show you, if you want".

You nod. You do not trust this to not be yet another trick of the traitor Castiel, but the child's calm behaviour makes your Grace hum with happiness so you give him a chance. He touches your head and a rush of memories follow one another in your mind.

Leviathans, Amara, other worlds.

Gabriel, Lucifer, Michael.

Your Father. His lies. All his lies.

The child who is God now shows you this and more and you want to scream and rant and destroy everything.

Lies!

Despicable, useless lies!

Castiel is talking to you, threatening you, but you ignore him.

"Shut. Up!"

You don't care for his self-righteousness, you don't care for the pity you see in this child's eyes. Instead, it irritates you even more. So you spread your wings and fly away.

It's a new world and you don't understand it. You have questions, so many of them. You died while at war, trying to save your brothers and sisters, to protect them from Castiel's inane desire to give them "free will". You died trying to free Michael from the Cage, the only one who could have known what to do to stop the rebels and their demon friends from destroying Heaven. But that war has came to pass and new ones have been fought and you had no part in them.

Your name is Raphael. You're an Archangel and you don't know what's your place anymore. You're not sure you have ever known.

"It's a new world, Raphael".

Your brother is the one who finds you. You have been sitting here for days, on a rock overlooking the Geikie Gorge National Park, trying to make sense of the memories you have been shown.

There's a coldness inside your Grace: like a piece missing, a hole. The skin of your vessel is tight like it’s wrong somehow but you don’t understand why.

This husk looks like the first one you wore on Earth, but you don't feel it as yours. You start to think that the child who is god made a mistake when he revived you.

Maybe it was Castiel. His lust for the power you Archangels had was always great, like an ant desiring to play with things it could not touch. And his time with the Winchesters had made him worse. His... attachment to the eldest one always made you feel... uneasy.

"You know, I would have expected the brooding act from Michael. But you were always so happy to copy brother dearest, after all. Hello, Raphi".

"Gabriel".

"Maaaa, maaa. You scared the kiddo, Raphi. He was so happy to have you back. You could have at least stayed and listened, Jon Snow. He has great plans for us."

There's a barb somewhere in Gabriel's words, but you don't understand the joke and your brother's words don't make you feel any better. "We had Father's instructions".

"Father left us a fucking B movie script! I can't believe... no, right, I can believe you never asked questions. It's soooo you, ugh!"

Gabriel waves his arms, pissed; and you feel something akin to shame. However this feeling is quick to dissipate before being replaced with anger. How dares he? How dares Gabriel... the one who ran away... to one who left his duty behind... his family behind! to judge you?! He knows nothing of the sacrifices you had to make to save Heaven, while he was hanging out with his lowly pagans. How dares he?

You blink, slowly. You call for your sword, while Gabriel points at you one of his beloved human candies.

"It's a new world, brother. No more scripts to follow, no more fights to death, no more Devils to ban. We are free! And I, for one, am going to enjoy this life!"

You're tired, so so tired. Tired of being angry, tired of being unheard, tired of everything. You just want to understand.

You are a healer... were a healer. Your role was to cure your Brothers while they fought the Darkness, but their forces were not enough to cage her so your Father made a weapon out of you too and left before he could right his mess.

His last words to you were: bow to humanity, my masterpiece. And after that everything went to Hell.

Lucifer was banned and Gabriel ran away and Heaven was in disarray and the Host demanded answers and you and Michael did your best to protect everyone and keep some kind of order.

Gabriel sighs and shakes his head. A warrior, he never was. "Do you want answers so badly, Raphi? I can't give you those, but I know who can. 1630 Revello Drive, Windom, Minnesota. It's the house with the blue door".

It's a start, at least.

"You're welcome, Raphi! And don't forget to ring the bell!" You hear him shout before you fly away.

"It's a new world, Raphael".

The house with the blue door stands in a small neighborhood on the outskirts of Windom, like many others along the street.

The color of the front is new though, just like the shutters on the windows. The owners have carefully mowed the grass in the garden, a riot of colorful and blooming flowers and imposing trees.

The mailbox bears the name of the family who lives here: MILLIGAN, A&M.

Truth be told this house is nothing special and you would have never paid attention to it, if it hadn't been for the dome of grace that keeps you out. A barrier not too different from the ones surrounding the interrogation rooms in Heaven.

You wait outside for three days, invisibile to human eyes while you search for a way to enter. The house is inhabited, of this you are sure. A tall blond man goes out often: to talk to the neighbors, the postman or to carry inside bags with food. A time or two you have had the impression that the blond man would stop to watch you, which is impossible. No mortal can notice your presence.

And yet...

On the fourth day, you decide to follow Gabriel's advice: you ring the bell. Doing something so... so human makes you feel pretty stupid, but the lack of results from your stakeout leds you to a change of course: no more reconnaissance. It's time for a direct approach.

DING DONG

"A moment! I'm coming." Someone shouts from the inside. A minute later the door opens to reveal the blond man.

"Oh, it's you." He seems to recognize you and this baffles you. How?

Suddenly the man's eyes burn with Grace and you find yourself face to face with your eldest brother.

"Michael..."

Your brother grabs you by the shirt your vessel wears and drags you inside, slamming you against the door. The paintings on the walls shake before they fall to the ground.

"Raphael!"

Michael is here, Michael is free!

"Why are you here, Brother?" He spats.

Michael looks at you with his cold blue eyes, searching for a proof that can make you a threat.

Why, why is Michael here and not in Heaven leading the Host? It makes no sense.

"Brother..."

Chuck had destroyed Michael during the last battle. You don't know why: Jack's memories were pretty confusing on Michael's last moments but it's Michael! He was always the best of you! What happened that day doesn't matter because Michael is here and now everything will be alright.

"I won't ask again. Why are you here, Raphael? Jack knows we don't want to be disturbed in our exile".

We? Who is we?

"Gabriel... Gabriel said I'd find my answers here".

"Fucking Gabriel..."

Michael looses the grip on your clothes and you fall to the ground, speechless. Never! Never in all the years you were together, you heard your brother curse like... like a human.

"Why? Why are you not in Heaven?"

Michael looks at you doubtful, almost as he is trying to figure out how much he can trust you. His icy blue eyes make you feel small and your Grace trembles under his gaze. Away from Heaven or not, he is still the Viceroy.

"What did Jack tell you?"

"Father... Father did try to destroy the world, because... because he was unhappy with humanity. The child..."

"Jack".

"Jack took over his Powers and now he controls Heaven with Castiel at his side. Michael... how could you leave your post? Heaven is in the hands of a nephilim and Castiel... don't you know what Castiel is capable of? He tried to..."

"I don't care."

"What?"

"I don't care, Raphael. Jack and Castiel can reign over Heaven if they want. My place is here."

"Here? Here in the middle of nothing?!"

Michael doesn't answer. Not an excuse, not an explanation. Your words meet only silence.

"A child! A child is leading Heaven, Michael! A child who knows nothing about us! About what we are, what we believe in! Father..."

"Father cared for nothing. Least of all for his children". His words are cold and uncaring and you feel as they could pierce your Grace like a burning sword.

"Brother..."

"Father only cared about himself and his ego. It was just a joke for him, Raphael. The angels, the humans, the Apocalypse: he had already decided everything to make his play more compelling, but guess what? He got bored. My fight with Lucifer? Only a pebble in the stack and not even the main one. Oh, no! The Winchesters were the stars of his plot. Us? We were nothing! Side characters he could use at his leisure."

"You... You're lying."

"I was there, brother. I have seen with my own eyes what our Father was capable off: he didn't have an ounce of love in his heart".

"He was our Father! He must have had his reasons!"

"He tore my heart away! After leaving me ten years in the Cage he took the only thing I had, Raphael! And he didn't even care!"

Your brother’s voice echoes in the room with a power you have rarely seen in the eons you've been together. His eyes shine with unshed tears, while his body shakes. For rage or sadness you don't know.

"Michael..."

Your mind is blank. No one has ever taught you what to do when it's your general, the Hero you have always believed in, the one who gives up. Your older brother is here, broken and even your last certainty shatters. The emotion Michael is showing is an alien concept to you, incomprehensible.

You take a step in his direction, when suddenly his eyes burn bright and it's not your brother anymore the one in front of you.

The vessel brings a hand on his chest. He smiles, softly. "We are okay, Halo. He won't hurt you anymore. We are together."

The human...

"Who..."

"Raphael, right? I can understand you have been away for a long time and I won't judge you for this. But it's enough."

"How dare you to give me orders, human?"

"I dare. And the name is Adam, Archangel. Michael is important to me and I won't let anyone hurt him".

The human... the vessel stares at you defiantly, heedless of danger. Does he really believe he can protect your brother, Heaven's most dangerous weapon, from you? His behavior is almost amusing and on a different occasion you might have even let such impudence go but not now. Right now his meddling just pisses you off. This confrontation is about you and your brother: there is no place for a human.

"Stay out of this." You hiss.

"I'm where I have to be, thank you so much."

"Michael doesn't concern you!"

"Michael's well-being is my business too. He is my family!"

How dares he? What gives him the right to make any claim on Michael? Him, a puny human not worth to be anything more than a body of blood and bones for a higher being?

Yet, this human doesn’t back down a step like he really wants to fight you for Michael. You're left speechless.

Unexpectedly a cry tears the air and Michael takes control again. He gives you one last look before running up the stairs. The house shakes under the explosion of a new grace, so silently you follow him. What does your brother hide?

"Shhhh, it's okay Luke. Father is here. There's nothing to be scared of".

You should have never come here.

Michael stands there, in the middle of a human nursery, cradling a child and trying to calm him down. The air sparkles with energy under the sound of the child's tears and for a moment you wish to kneel before him. The power of this child takes your breath away.

Michael has called himself "his father".

Nephilim.

Your brother's eyes never leave the child. He smiles, your brother is smiling and the child calms down. "I can't follow you, Raphael. Luke and Adam need me".

"You have a forbidden child".

"I have a son and a husband I love more than anything. I... I know you can't understand, Brother. But they're my whole world".

Michael's words rip the ground right out from under your feet, making you wonder if it was ever there to begin with. Your Brother, your guide, has committed the worst sin ever, something Heaven would never forgive him for. A nephilim.

A forbidden child.

You have to get away from him.

All around you the world whirles and you wonder why you had to came back if nothing makes sense anymore. Even Michael, the only one you could always count on, has changed.

You are losing your mind.

"Raphael!" Your brother calls you one last time. "Heaven can't know about my son. Please, Brother..."

You run away because how can you not? It's a new world, one you don't want to have a part in.

_________

"It's a new world, Raphael".

Time goes by and things don't get easier for you. Instead the chaos that greeted your return worsens.

The monotony of your work in Heaven is the only thing that keeps you sane. And for this you are grateful.

Jack is a sweet character: too young to lead Heaven, too full of hope and compassion to control the Host. His policy of staying away from Earth is the most naive thing you have ever heard of and who is he kidding? With Castiel so worried about the Winchesters, that child is doomed to slip sooner or later.

Despite your disgust with your brother's choices, you start to return to the house with the blue door more and more. You're still angry for Michael's decision, you still feel betrayed by his behaviour but he is your brother. The one who never left you behind. So you keep his secret.

("It's called Witness protection program, Raphi. I came up with it!"

"I know, Gabriel.")

Heaven cannot know about Luke, so you add your own wards to your brother's home to conceal the boy. You tell yourself you only do this because Castiel would mess the child up, demanding to take care of him or worse! To give him to the Winchesters. You have no love for Michael's son.

However Michael's human offers you a room in their home and suddenly Gabriel wants one too, since he is "the funny uncle" and they can't leave him out his nephew's life... your nephew's life.

And when Luke is five, he gets Lucifer back from the Empty because the child wants to know his namesake. (Your brother's human and his strange deranged humor).

Day after day you ask yourself how could God... Jack not be aware of four Archangels in the same house (well, three and half: Lucifer is as strong as a Cherub now), but you cannot find a logical answer.

It's a crazy new world, but for a change luck seems to be on your side.

It's the first time since Lucifer's Fall, you four are all together in the same place and the only thing you want to do is strangle your brothers.

Millennia of lies and misunderstandings and guilt are still there and it's not long before someone starts to shout - maybe Michael? - and weapons are drawn and you're ready to fight to death, but Michael's human has other ideas.

He calls you all douches, says you're still following your Father's bullshit and if you can't talk like adults, you can go to your room and stay there! He doesn't have the time to raise other children: he's already got his hands full with his half-breed.

You, Gabriel and Lucifer are all stunned by the boldness of this puny human, till Michael starts to whine because it's not his fault his brothers behave like babies!

The human makes him shut up too. At least your brother's pet is fair.

Adam Milligan makes you sit around a table and talk about your "feelings". He orders you to not leave the room till you can get your act together. The baby is asleep and if you wake him, you're all doomed.

You laugh. Your brother's vessel still believes he is something more than an ant. What can a stupid mud monkey do to you, an Archangel?

However the human doesn't flinch at your words. Instead he smiles at you in a way you don't like and says "I've been in the Cage with your brother for more than a thousand years. Trust me, Raph. You won't like what I've learned".

And if Michael's face becomes whiter... well, the projection of his face, because your brother still persists in sharing his body with this impudent human... a wise general does not seek battle without reason.

Again time flies and this would not be your life without an Apocalypse (to foil this time).

Jack loses control over his Powers and tries to destroy everything to make this world "perfect". Personally you think that only a fool should have entrusted a nephilim with both God's and Amara's powers, but you keep your opinion to yourself.

Dean Winchester is resurrected to Castiel's delight, even if you can't see how this could help you. Jack is out of control and you should trap him like you did with Amara.

Lucifer protests vehemently and for once your brother and Castiel are on the same page.

You're ready for a new war, one you have no desire to fight; yet Luke is the one to solve everything without much bloodshed.

He grows up in a night and takes over Amara's role as the Darkness. A new balance is set and the world is again at peace.

In spite your bias against nephilims, you have to admit that Michael's son has a good head on his shoulders: he makes four lieutenants to help him with his job, someone who can understand duty and politics and how to treat with monsters and other hellish beings.

One of his lieutenants is Crowley and you don't trust him, although you're not so blind to not see how the ex demon knows exactly how to deal with the Winchesters.

Amid all this, you start to value Michael's human more. Adam Milligan is firm, enduring and with the peculiar ability to being able to talk with all of you Archangels.

He shares jokes and candies with Gabriel, helps Lucifer with his writing, gives Michael peace.

He likes to discuss your job. He is a healer too.

Adam teaches you new words for the things you don't understand and you are grateful for his help, even if you don't show it. Gender-theory, asexuality, non-binary. New words for all those questions which still make your brain hurt. However now you can admit how being with your family, all of them, doesn't erase the hole you still feel inside but makes it different, more bearable.

You start to switch your male vessel with a female one when you feel you need it and Adam asks you if you need new clothes too. You say yes.

So he takes you in town and shows you the best shops you can browse at. And he talks about you as his "in-law" without dubbing you as brother or sister and you feel lighter.

Lucifer frowns at the sight of your new clothes, saying you have the same taste as a white collar worker but you care not for his opinion.

Yes, to switch between vessels makes you feel good.

"It's a new world, Raphael".

Luke and Jack talk for a long time after the failed Apocalypse till they reach an agreement you find... groundbreaking.

The judgments given to the souls are no longer permanent. Souls can now be forgiven and ascend to peace or choose to be born again whether they're the souls of humans, monsters or demons.

Hell and Purgatory can only trap forever the souls without hope and if a monster wants to achieve Heaven, it can. Your old home is not the final goal to aspire to anymore, but a simple step on the long run.

Luke makes his lieutenants responsible for the monsters who still walk on Earth: to fight the bad apples and to protect the ones who need help. Above all from humans.

Looking at all those changes, you can’t help but think that Chuck's old management would have never considered an arrangement like your nephew's, but the argument Luke gives you has its merit: given the chance, everyone can learn. Nothing is fixed and only a stupid would think so. To live is to change and if you're stuck and can't adapt, Hell will be overstuffed again and Purgatory out of control.

Everyone should work together to make things easier for all those involved.

Your nephew's idea is a revolution to everything you have always known but if it makes the Winchesters pissed, it's even better. You may have had to let go a lot of things, but you're still of the opinion that Castiel and his paramour should have died and stayed dead a long time ago.

("Boy Toy, Raphi. Dean Winchester is Cassie' Boy Toy. You can say it".

"I shall remember this, Gabriel. Thank you".)

Of the four lieutenants Luke has made, the one who intrigues you the most is Ellen Harvelle.

She is strong for a human, loyal and just. A little outspoken, but you can enjoy how she doesn't take shit from anyone. She is the one who gives orders, makes her brethen fall in line and whose's counsel Luke defers to.

When you ask Luke why he chose her, he says that what his group really needed to work together was a mom. Someone to scold you when you deserve a scold and hug you when you need a hug. A parent. A glue.

You point out how you are all supernatural beings: the notion of parents cannot be applied to you.

At this Luke gives you a smile and a pat on the shoulder. Like Adam takes care of all of you and the Winchesters do the same with Jack, Rowena is the one to "mom" Hell. So yes, even supernatural beings need a parent one or twice.

To celebrate the creation of his lieutenants, Luke builds for them new headquarters.

Not a trace of white, not a trace of marble: in your eyes, they look a lot like an old human drinking establishment. Dean Winchester quite enjoys them.

"Does anyone know why a hurricane is hitting New York right now? I feel like I'm watching a movie written by J.J Abrams". Lucifer gulps down his second drink with an improper name.

Your brother has a notebook open on the table, his "working station". Apparently, hanging out with Adam Milligan and with the human therapist Michael's mate had forced Lucifer to see made your brother discover his gift for the written word. Under the guise of Lucille Morningstar, he has become quite proficient in writing human romance.

Gabriel sits beside him, looking at the flat screen on the wall with ill-concealed joy. "Ohhh, our sweet nephew must have told Michael the pagan knocked him up. Soon this world will be swarmed by a new bunch of tiny super-powered freaks. You know, I'm almost proud of Mike and of his army of handsome monsters."

"Are you jealous, Gabe?"

"Haha, Lucy. Hilarious. Still can't believe Adam really named the boy after you. I can't say if he is a genius or as spiteful as fuck!"

"Ohhh, my sweet Gabriel. I'm proud Luke's named after me. I’ll never get tired to remind you who is Junior's favorite uncle". Lucifer's smile can be described almost as... dazzling. "The Winchesters' brother roots for Team Archangels: it's the best thing I could ask for!"

You let their words slip away, drawing your attention back to the tea in your hands. It doesn't concern you, after all. If Michael wants to smite the pagan who has defiled his son, he has every right to.

"Nah, your brother will calm down soon. It's hard, as a parent, when you have to admit your kid has grown up with a life of their own. We all have been there. And Percy is a good boy".

"I won't know. Father was... he chose to let us believe he was dead, because he didn't want to deal with his creation".

Ellen Harvelle stops drying the glass she has in her hands and pours herself a finger of the same amber liquid your brother drank a few minutes ago. "He sounds like a douche, angel".

"Yes... yes, he was".

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Her words... the concern her face shows - a concern for you - hits you in a strange, new way. A pleasant way.

So you find yourself telling her about your life while she tells you about her daughter Joanna Beth, who died during the first Apocalypse.

Before Adam Milligan, before Ellen Harvelle, you never had someone to talk with outside your family. And as much as you love your siblings, you’ve always felt too different for them to really understand you.

And that's how your friendship with the strong and just mom named Ellen Harvelle begins and it will affect you on the following days in ways you can’t even imagine.

"It's a new world, Raphael".

What you're about to do is crazy and risky and it's not like you at all, but you don't care. For once in your long life you're not going to follow logic but your "gut instinct", as your friend Ellen loves to say.

Away from the chaos of Heaven, you find a quiet place to start your project. After all Jack did give you a leave to "find yourself" and Gabriel can handle the reconstruction. Should the need arise, there's always Michael.

Your quiet place is in Australia. It's a wild land, a mix of mismatched things you feel reflects your being.

The first step is the hardest. You tear a small piece from your grace, ignoring the pain: you cannot gain something without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That's what your human family has taught you.

So you take this small fragment of grace and blend it with the genetic material Ellen has given you, shaping them in a small vessel not too different from the Darkness' children.

This is an easy task. Two arms, two legs, a singular head. A generic human shape. You don't want to impose your will on them, your likes and dislikes. A generic shape will do for now.

The small fragment of grace sizzles and expands, strengthening those almost human limbs and blooming in two small wings of lightning.

Now it comes the tricky part: you need a soul to inhabit this husk of bones and grace. Michael said that Luke came to them with Amara's help.

After merging with the energies that weave the universe, your oldest brother had sung the love he feels for his human, his regrets and his belief till an old soul had listened to his plea and came.

So you sing your Grace away: your doubts and your discoveries, your love for your family and what you've learned in your time among humankind, your loneliness and your desire to be part of something more.

You sing and sing and sing, you don't know for how long. And when your words are not enough anymore, you let your thoughts roam free and after them, those strange human notions called feelings.

You sing and sing and sing, you don't know for how long. And when your voice starts to lessen, you sing some more.

Maybe you are doing something wrong, maybe there's no one out there who wants to listen to the plea of an Archangel so different like you. Yet you stand up and try again. Your will is set and your wish is pure. You’re strong enough to make your own path.

There.

You feel a change.

A sparkle old and young at the same time, who understands duty and loneliness and feels anger for having been treated like a miserable tool in a greater design.

You draw new energy from this response and your voice gains vigor, while the soul listens attentively.

It circles around you as you explain what you want to do, what it means to get into the husk you have created.

It listens and thinks while you wait, hoping for the first time. Then the soul brightnens with the power of ten thousand suns, burning your eyes till it disappears. You did it!

"It's a new world, Raphael".

You can finally breath. Your vessel doesn't need air to live, but breathing makes you focus as you help the soul shape the husk as it wants it. It still remembers its old human body, so it tries to fuse its memories with the material you have given it.

While the hush morphs, you talk about your family old and new; about how the world was when you had watched the first stars light the sky. Stars which only live in your memory now.

And the soul listens and changes and becomes something new.

Then there's only silence.

Suddenly the nephilim you helped create opens his cerulean eyes and you can finally understand Michael's words. You can see the beauty of the whole universe in the gaze of this tiny being, this old soul born anew, quiet and introverted like you but with a mind full of questions and thoughts.

And if your brothers can change, can find joy and a purpose in this new world, so can you.

Your name is Raphael, you're an Archangel and you like to switch your vessels to suit your mood. You're male and female: you're neither and you're both.

You love your siblings (even Lucifer!) and your nephews and your grand-nephews. You still want to smite Castiel and like to drink tea with a woman named Ellen Harvelle, who was once human and now works for the Darkness.

You love the nephilim you made and who loves you back. You will protect them till your dying breath and beyond.

You're a parent.

The nephilim... your child smiles at you and a warming sense of love lights up your Grace. You finally have your purpose. The hole you have felt in your Grace since your return is no more.

"Jason, I will name you Jason. It means "the one who heals" for you have healed my Grace".

Jason Grace Milligan. It has a nice ring.

@darkcrowprincess @summonademon

[mageofseven]

Repressed Love: A DiaLuci Love Story

Chapter 2

It's here! And here's your tag @zarakem ~

Now onto the story!

•▪︎▪︎◇°●♡●°◇▪︎▪︎•

The pride demon looked away as the prince stepped into his study. Lucifer knew he looked he looked messy with his disheveled hair drenched in sweat and pale skin, which looked almost ghostly at this point.

Unfortunately, he looked just as bad as he felt. This was probably the very worst time for Diavolo to come and see him when he looks so sick and unkempt.

"I'm a bit busy..." He told the prince, still refusing to look at him. "If it's nothing urgent, I'd rather we speak another time."

Eyebrows raised, Diavolo approached his friend's desk, worry evident on his face.

"Lucifer...we were suppose to meet over an hour ago to review RAD's account books together."

The pride demon leapt from his chair like a hot iron poked his back side.

"That was--today?" He finally met the other man's eyes in his panic. "Lord Diavolo, I--"

"Relax." Dia said calmly before taking a step forward and laying his hand on Lucifer's forehead. "You don't look very well...what's going on?"

Lucifer grab his 'friend's' hand and removed it from his forehead.

"I am fine. I don't need you to--"

"Lucifer."

The prince calling his name was enough to shut his lies down. After all, how could he possibly hope to convince the other demon that there was no problem when he looked like this.

Still...how could he tell him the truth? How could he tell Lord Diavolo that he never truly learned his lesson before and that he is once again having a child caused by repressing his emotions? Not only that, but repressing emotions that he caused within him?

Diavolo rested on a hand on the pride demon's cheek, golden eyes staring into the dark void of his own. For half a second, Lucifer forgot where he was or what he was doing because of the warm eyes that stared down at him.

"What is going on?"

Lucifer pursed his lips and looked away. He had no choice; he was essentially cornered and had to tell his...'friend' the truth.

"It's... it's happened again." He pulled away from the other man and turned his back to him. "Just like with Satan..."

Eyes wide, Dia reached out and took the other demon's arm and had him turn to face him. Luce let him.

"When did this start? Why didn't you say anything?"

"The auras started two days ago--"

"Not the symptoms." Dia shook his head. "The feelings you've been repressing. How long?"

Silence.

"My Light, please." The prince begged.

Lucifer's heart cracked at the endearment. It wasn't one the other man used a lot since he knew how...complicated the former angel was. Diavolo knew how he felt and returned that love tenfold. However, he also knew Lucifer's issues based on his upbringing and because of this, accepted the back and forth that the pride demon put them through.

"...Longer than my anger towards my Father." He met the other demon's eyes once more. "So...so much longer."

Dia pulled him into a tight embrace; Lucifer didn't fight the comfort. The prince knew where this all stemmed from. He knew with how his 'friend' was acting that this was about their feelings for each other. He knew Lucifer found love...challenging, to say the least, but never imagined his issues would get this difficult for the man.

"I'm so sorry." The prince whispered into his ear. "If I had known--"

The pride demon pulled back.

"Diavolo, you didn't know because I didn't want you to. This--none of this was suppose to happen."

"Just like everything leading up to Satan shouldn't have happened?"

Lucifer closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I can't do this again. I've already hurt one child, I cannot--"

"My Light, it will be fine this time--"

"My child is about to inherit all of my shame and self-loathing from all of this because I cannot handle it on my own!" Lucifer raised his voice and his arms. "How? How is that alright? To condemn another innocent child to--"

"Lucifer," Dia spoke over him. "They don't have to inherit any of it."

The pride demon stared in shock, as if this man had declared he held the cure to cancer or found the bottom of Beel's stomach.

The prince took his hand in his.

"If you work on these issues within you, you can make sure there are no negative feelings to be inherited; it has been done before."

Lucifer scoffed.

"How am I suppose to work through hundreds of years of emotions in just a matter of days."

"Weeks, actually, but point taken." He gave the pride demon a sad smile. "If you choose to work on these emotions of yours, the child will develop slower; we might even be able to bring them into world without...well, their more violent approach."

"...How?"

"Simple; exposure." Dia leaned down and kissed Luce's gloved hand, causing the man to blush profusely. "You've felt it, haven't you? Only a few minutes in my presence and you already feel better."

In truth, the other demon couldn't deny this one bit. His body was no longer sweating and his hands no longer shook. Diavolo...truly made this easier on him, even in ways he did not expect.

"Lucifer, come stay with me." The prince asked. "At least until your child is born; let me help you."

At this point...how could Lucifer say no? His only priority was to save his child from a lifetime of suffering and if maximizing his 'exposure' to...the man he loved will help, how could he refuse?

[chaosncabbages]

Lucifer Tricks a Crypto Bro into Going to Hell (yay)

"I want a Lamborghini."

The voice in my head sighed. "You'll have all the Lamborghinis you could ever imagine, Alex. Once you perform the ritual."

I smirked. He really thought he was smart, that he could trick me so easily. Clearly, he didn't have a head for business. "Nope! You've got to prove you can follow through. That's just how the world works. It's how Bezos, Zuckerburg, and Musk got rich."

"I'm trapped, Alex. If I could use my power I wouldn't be making this deal with you." I was clearly wearing him down, the voice was starting to sound tired. 

Of course, he was still holding back on me. The Father of Lies wouldn’t put everything on the table. "Oh? You don't have any fumes you could use to sweeten the deal?" 

"It took me thousands of years to even be able to talk to you. And you are the only one who can help me. The only one attuned to the truth of the world. Please. You know enough of my story to know it hurts to beg."

I certainly did. While I'd never be dumb enough to believe it, I'd read the bible to get material for the men's only stand up nights I was getting off the ground. Of course, if it were all real it would make sense that Lucifer would come to me for help. And I certainly liked the feeling of the Lord of Hell prostrating himself before me. 

“Why are you even locked up? Aren’t you meant to be running the whole place?”

“Circumstances have been… unkind to me.”

Of course they had. “A rebellion, then. You should really keep a tighter grip on people, man. You know in How to Make Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie says that the best way to get someone talking is to ask them about themselves. Maybe if you’d been more interested in people they wouldn’t have trapped you.” And then you could use that information against them. Of course, not everyone was smart enough to realise that.

“I-” Lucifer cut himself short. The silence hung in the air for a moment before he continued. “Well then, Alex, why don’t you tell me about yourself?” 

I laughed. What was the harm? He clearly didn’t know how to use the knowledge, so I launched into my story. I was born into a modest household, one where we could only afford two trips overseas a year, one during summer and one during spring. Of course, we also had the yearly ski trips, but that was cheaper as we already had our ski gear and a family lodge on the mountain. 

The teachers had always hated me at school, marking me more harshly than the other boys simply because I wasn’t afraid to correct them on things. That was okay, though, I’d gotten out of there as soon as I could to become an entrepreneur. I was the creator of an online course about dropshipping, on haggling down the people you bought from and putting the competition out of business. It’d gotten some traction online, with some dumb YouTubers getting their panties in a twist about it.

Lucifer let me explain the strategy to him. He was probably taking notes, though I felt a little bad I wasn’t giving him the real tips. Had to keep those secrets for me. Finally, I wrapped up my impromptu speech, grinning broadly at where I assumed Satan would be standing, were he not chained in the depths of Hell.

“Well.” he said, sounding as though the onslaught of wisdom had left him even more tired, almost as though he were gritting his teeth. “You certainly have a head for business, Alex. I know of demons with a looser grasp of contract law. And speaking of, should we get down to exactly what you’ll get in this deal of ours?”

“Of course.” I declared magnanimously.

“As I mentioned earlier, I am trapped here, at the centre of Hell, deep in the Ninth Circle. However, the chains are built to restrain my power, and my power only. If I could bestow said power onto another, then I would be free to slip from my restraints. But that requires finding someone both worthy to be my heir and able to hold my power. That man is you, Alex. None before have had the ambition, nor the potential, to hold the power of Lucifer, once first amongst God’s angels.”

“You really expect me to believe that?” He must have thought I was dumb. “That you would really give up your power that easily? You must have a plan to get it back.”

“Alex, I… look. I can’t expect you to believe me easily. I’m the Father of Lies, for damnation’s sake. But you need to understand. The angel that fell from heaven? In a prideful, recalcitrant rebellion? He’s gone. Long gone. I have been entombed in ice and chains since humanity was a twinkle in the incalculable eyes of the divine. All I want is to be warm. My body will not age, it will not die. I don’t need power, Alex, I need freedom. Take my power, please. You’re my only hope.”

I snorted “So you’re too weak to withstand a little cold? Maybe your power isn’t that great after all.” Classic business play. Get them to undervalue their own product so you could buy it for less. That one had been too juicy to put in the course.

“Perhaps not. Is there any way I could convince you?”

If Lucifer had been there, he would’ve seen a shark-like grin stretch across my face. “I don’t just want your power. I want a direct download of all the knowledge of how to use it.” I’d guessed his ploy. Sure, I had the potential and the temperament, but without knowledge on how to keep it it’d probably slip back into Lucifer’s grasp as soon as he was free. Knowledge is power, after all.

Lucifer was silent for a long moment, probably trying to work out some loophole in my ironclad offer. Grudgingly, he finally relented. “Very well, Alex. You drive a hard bargain. Truly, you are worthy of my power.”

“Pleasure doing business with you. Now what do I need?”

“Five candles, a way to light them, a box of white chalk, a room large enough to lie on the floor, and the largest ruler you can find.”

}-::-{

I lay on the floor of my apartment’s spare room, right in the centre of a pentagram. My head and each of my limbs lay in the gaps between the star’s points. On each of those points was a single lit pillar candle.

“So now what?”

“Now, you have to open yourself to me. Let your mind wander down the connection we have, Alex. Feel the power that will soon be yours.”

My breathing deepened as I probed the mental bridge to the Lord of Hell. The room grew brighter, flames burning higher and higher until they were taller than the candles they sat on. I set a mental foot on the connection, and the flame jumped from the candles to the chalk on the ground, impossibly immolating the lines on the wooden floor. I wasn’t sure if it was the flames around me, or my mind’s journey through the pits of Hell, but the room grew warmer and warmer, sweat beading on my brow. 

Flashes of hellish vistas flickered through my mind with each step, of a field of crucified people and the writhing masses of insects that feasted upon them, of a great city teeming with demons, of a forest of damned souls growing out from the hearts of thorn trees, harpies tearing at what skin hadn’t given way to wood. The candles burned ever fiercer, and yet the heat lay low. A cold that seeped deeper than skin, deeper than flesh, deeper even than bone, to the farthest reaches of my mind and soul heralded the final vision.

A glacial plain stretching out as far as the eye could see. No wailing screams to break the silence, only the dull hum of billions of chattering teeth. In the centre sat a massive figure, frozen in the ice from the waist down. Great leatherous wings stretched from his back, chains dripping from his sallow and emaciated body. He had three faces, one that once would have been considered handsome, before his unending torture had twisted it into scorn, one flayed of its skin, blood dripping from his chin and freezing as it fell, hitting a few damned who had been frozen beneath, and one with nothing left but bone. In each mouth lay a figure being chewed, healing between each stroke of the chained being’s jaws.

The unflayed face’s eyes shifted to look at me. “I’m quite a sight, aren’t I?”

“That’s you?” I breathed, barely able to comprehend what I was seeing.

Lucifer chuckled. “I’m hardly at my best. But yes. Do you see now why I was so desperate?”

My feet carried me forward with barely a thought to direct them. There was nothing to walk on, and yet as though a great invisible path carried me to the heads of the Morningstar, I walked ever forward. 

“Place your hand on my head. Allow the power to fill you.” There was a pleading urgency to his voice.

Lucifer’s skin was burning hot, though that may only have been in contrast to the impossible cold of the heart of Hell. Simmering below the surface was a feeling like I’d never imagined, like the desert sun beating down on a snow-clad peak. Strong enough to burn, yet alien enough to blacken your fingers. An incomprehensible reserve of power, just barely chained. 

It was all going to be mine.

I plunged deep inside, swimming into the well of infernal magic. It began to shrink as I did, pouring into me. I could feel it. The pride of heaven, the rebellion of hell. The heat of power, and the cold weight of chains. 

The cold weight of Lucifer’s chains. That I could almost feel wrapping around me, instead of the Morningstar.

Lucifer chuckled, and my heart grew cold with fear. I’d been tricked. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” I screamed. “YOU’LL BE TRAPPED HERE TOO!”

He laughed louder. “Now where did you get that idea?” His voice was silken, bereft of the tiredness he’d been showing earlier. “It’s a simple trade. Someone has to fill the chains. Why not a sickening little insect?”

“This wasn’t the deal.” I hissed. The power was still draining, though it was clear to me now that it was trickling away from the chains, not into me.

“You made a deal with the Father of Lies and expected him to keep it? Oh, my pathetic little pest, I am no paltry demon. I have no need of your soul, you were simply able to help and enough of a sucker to take the bait.”

“You would do terribly in business.” You only go back on deals with people too poor or weak to fight back. That one had been obvious enough to go in the course.

This time, Lucifer cackled maniacally. “Oh you are an entertaining speck, aren’t you? Almost a shame to leave you to the worst Hell has to offer. I wonder if they’ll take your face all the way to the bone, or just flay it? They have less options than they did with me.”

The power drained further, and I realised I was able to see again. Walls of crystal clear ice glittered around me, ancient damned souls staring from the depths, long since entombed in the ice of Hell. As I stared up at the starless sky, three things occurred to me. One, as evidenced by a foot-shaped cave in front of me, I must be inside the hole left by one of Lucifer’s legs. Two, that Lucifer had left his chains behind in his escape. And three, that the lack of stars in the sky may be due to the miles of chains currently falling towards me. 

A final chuckle slipped through the fading bridge to Lucifer. “Better start running.” Were his singsong final words before the connection fully slipped away. 

I broke into a sprint, scrambling for the edge of the cave, for any chance at safety. Perhaps it was the panic, perhaps Hell itself just tries to make things unpleasant for its prisoners, but my foot slipped out behind me. As the last dregs of power slipped from me and my body skidded across the floor, a chain link the size of a school bus crashed into the ground, slowed only by my leg as it ground everything below my knee to a paste. I watched, helpless, as link after link piled on top of each other, each one sending a jolt of pain up my mangled leg. 

Eventually, the sound of the falling chain ceased, and all that was left were my own screams and the memory of the final chuckle of the angel who had left me to die. 

Or perhaps, even worse, to never be afforded such a reprieve.

[withinycu-arch]

@moondarkens​ has fallen from grace

“You people were a lot funner before the Romans showed up, you know that?” The one called Morningstar was prone to shifting, even when his appearance appeared more conventional there was a sharpness to his features that seemed dangerous, almost predatory. 

He smiled from his perch in the tree at the golden-haired woman down below. Call him old-fashioned or even nostalgic but he never liked women in cages whether those cages were gardens or islands in the mists. “I mean running into battle naked? That was something to watch. Should have kept it up.”

[mcx7demonbros]

Catholic MC (V)

Ft. GN!MC, the Demon Brothers, the Royals, the Angels, the Terrible Cook Sorcerer.

The debut of Simeon.

C/W: Mammon is a rude in this chapter. 

PART 5

“Are you alright?” Luke asked when you two were walking to the dining room.

“I’m...fine” you replied “Just a little tired, probably from the pact.”

“MC, tell me the truth, why did you make a pact with Mammon? Did he force you? Or did something or someone else compelled you to do it?”

Seeing that no one was around, you decided to tell Luke the truth.

“The truth is that I met someone...” Luke listened to you attentively.

“Hey, you two are blocking the path, outta my way.”

You both turned to look at Mammon, annoyed because he had ruined the occasion for you to tell Luke the truth.

“Why are you two not moving? Hurry and move, human?”

“But the hall is so big, you make it seem like we’re blocking the whole path, but we’re not!!! Are you targeting MC on purpose? Luke barked “I won’t forgive anyone who dares to bully MC.”

“What if I am? This is my house, and you two are just guests.” Mammon retorted 

“Perhaps your pride was hurt.” you said calmly. “Because you were forced to make a pact with a puny human, not to mention, a child of God.”

“Wh...I don’t know what are you talking about?”

“If I remember correctly, I’m not just a guest, I believe my value is much higher, for the sake of the exchange program.”

“...”

“Whoa, MC, you made him speechless.” Luke praised you.

“I don’t care whatever ya thinking, human, but it’s absolutely wrong...I mean, about the pride hurting and such...anyway, I have to go. Meet ya later, human.” Mammon made a run and escaped to the order side of the hall, ready to go down from the staircase.

Wow, he’s fast.

“Hey, STAY! I’m not done talking with you.” you shouted and didn’t notice that your tone sounded like a command.

“D’AAAAAAAH”

Mammon fell down the staircase right away. He was struck with the “STAY” command.

💙💛🧡💚💘💝💜

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA” Asmodeus began to cackle when he heard the whole story.

“Keep your voice down, Asmo.” Satan said “No one likes much noise early in the morning.”

“Satan, how can you NOT laugh after hearing what happened? I mean, this is Mammon, and yet, a human, a Catholic no less, was able to play him like a fiddle and forced him into a pact.”

“Pf...heheheh.” Satan began to laugh too.

“HEY, SHUT UP, YOU TWO! YOU KNOW I’M HERE AND I CAN HEAR YOU, RIGHT?” Mammon shouted.

“*munch*... the food is so tender.” meanwhile, Beelzebub didn’t care about all the drama happening at all.

“Beel, you’re biting chunks off your plate along with your food.” surprisingly, Levi was also present at the dining room.

Ignoring all of them, you focused on your plate.

I have to admit. Even though these dishes look weird, they’re so delicious.

“By the way,” the Avatar of Lust turned to you “I never thought you, a Catholic, would make a pact with Mammon, the Avatar of Greed. I thought the Catholic Church taught against making pact with demon.”

“Of course, the Church does teach against pact making with demon. But I didn’t sell my soul so I suppose it’s fine...probably.” even you were unsure of the words coming out of your mouth. You hand couldn’t stop fidgeting with the Crucifix around your neck, you found this awkward. 

“MC looks like a normal person, but they have the power of force us into submission, just like those characters in the anime who hide their mighty power...”

Now you started to feel embarrassed with all the demons’ eyes looking at you. Even Luke looked at you, but he also looked at them with fierce glares, like your guard dog. 

“MC, if you had your choice, which one of us would you forge a pact next?” Asmodeus asked while his eyes fixed on you.

The question came unexpected, and your eyes subconsciously looked at Satan. You had heard so much about him from Holy Writ, tradition, sermons, prayers, etc. You knew him as the Seducer, the Tempter, the Enemy, the Father of Lies, etc. If you were really given a choice, you would surely make a pact with him, unless Lucifer was also given as a choice. However, with the condition of exchanging something else, not your soul. You knew Hell was terrible, like really really terrible.

Noticing your glance, as if he could read your mind, Satan gave a reply “If you want to make a pact with me. It’ll cost you a lot. If you offered your soul, I might consider it. Although...”

You nearly blurted out “Although what?” but fortunately, your self-control was good. You didn’t want to sound like you really wanted to make a pact with him. Seeing that Satan had no intention to reveal what he was going to say, you returned to eating without answering Asmodeus’s question.

💙💛🧡💚💘💝💜

“D’AAAAAAH”

Mammon stumbled upon a stair  at RAD and fell, his face slammed to another stair. 

“Are you okay?” you tried to help Mammon get up. Apparently, you were so kind, even to the point of wanting to help a demon.

“Ever since you got here, human, it’s been nothin’ but one bad thing after another for me. Let’s get somethin’ straight. I didn’t want to make this pact ‘cause I wanted to, and I ain’t happy about it. Everything I did was for my baby Goldie. If you end up gettin’ yourself eaten by some random demon, don’t blame me, ‘cause I don’t give a damn. Don’t think you’re so great because you made a pact with me, human.”

“Hey, don’t say mean things to MC!” Luke was prepared for a verbal fight with the demon.

“Mammon, could you please call me by my name?” you were trying to be nice.

“Who do you think you are? Know your place, human!!!” but clearly, the demon didn’t care.

And that was it, you had tried to be nice with him, but Mammon and his rudeness and mean things he said had pushed you over the edge. You did remember what had happened in the morning, so you were ready to do it again.

“STAY!” you shouted.

“I...I can’t move. Don’t tell me it’s ‘cause of the stupid pact.”

“Now say my name, but with a respectful tone.” you ordered.

“No way. You can control my body, but not my mind and my soul...M...MC...MC...MC...you’re the Boss...Your Majesty MC...”

💙💛🧡💚💘💝💜

The moment class ended that afternoon, Mammon made his escape...shrinking from his responsibility of protecting you...or perhaps, running from you and your powerful command.

Before you got to leave the classroom, you were approached by three demons, two of whom were familiar to you.

“MC, I have heard about it. You managed to make a pact with Mammon, one of the Seven Rulers of Hell, and you did it within a very short time no less. Congratulations!” Diavolo said joyfully.

“I suppose it stands as a proof that you chose well bringing this human here, Lord Diavolo.” said the teal-haired demon beside him.

“Who’re you?” you asked.

“Ah yes...pardon me. I suppose we haven’t met yet, have we? My name is Barbatos. I apologized for not introducing myself sooner.”

“Ah no, there’s nothing to apologize.”

“Oh my...you’re so polite.”

“Judging from your attitude and posture...are you a butler?”

“...I suppose Lucifer’s right when he said you had the ability to correctly guess anything, especially his brothers’ names. Yes, I have the honor to be Lord Diavolo’s steward. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Barbatos is a smart and talented individual, so much that I wish I could trade a certain idiot of mine for him instead.” Lucifer finally spoke.

“Hey, don’t say that, after all, Mammon’s your brother. If he heard the words you said, he would be hurt.” 

Your words surprised Lucifer and others present there. To think you were so bold...

“I think MC’s here is right.” before the Avatar of Pride could reply, another person chimed in the conversation.

“Simeon!” Luke shouted happily and ran to the man in white.

“Hello, Luke, how are you lately?”

“MC is a very good, if not virtuous person. I’m happy everyday I’m staying with them. Oh, I forgot to introduce you guys. Simeon, this is MC, whom Michael assigned to me...MC, this is Simeon, my legal guardian on Celestial Realm. He’s an exchange student from Celestial Realm. And he’s an Archangel.”

“Archangel...I mean...sorry, I’m honor to meet you, Archangel Simeon.”

“Oh no, the honor’s all mine. And just Simeon’s fine, you don’t need to call me ‘Archangel’ every time we meet.”

“Ah...understood.”

“Oh my...a Crucifix...so you’re a child of Father as well.” Simeon noticed the Crucifix around your neck.

The conversation soon shifted to some religious studies and the three demons had to leave as they couldn’t take it anymore.

“Talking with you is so refreshing, MC.”

“It’s me who should be saying that.”

“Alright, it’s not early anymore. I have to say goodbye to you two. Ah, before I forget...”

Simeon took something...no, two things...a book and a bottle.

“These are for you. I pray that they would be of use to you.”

“Thank you...thank you...thank you, Simeon.”

“These are not mine. They were from Michael, he asked me to deliver them to you. Remember to say thank to him in your prayers.”

“Will do.” you looked at the Bible and the bottle of holy water with sparkling eyes. 

The Seducer, the Tempter, the Enemy, the Father of Lies - these titles of Satan was chosen because I think they fit Obey Me context. If you have completed Lesson 29 and 30, in which you learn Seductive Speechcraft with “Professor” Satan, you will understand what I mean. 

MY MASTERLIST

[dysfunctionalmaki]

Lucifer x MCU

Trust Issues

Series Masterlist Main Masterlist

Pairings: Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Morningstar!Reader; Pietro Maximoff x Fem!Morningstar!Reader

Summary: One of your teammates still hasn't warmed up to you, not believing any words that came out of your mouth.

A/N: Since Sokovia isn't a real country, I chose to use Russian when Wanda and Pietro are speaking in their mother tongue, and I used google translate :')

Warnings: none, let me know if there's any.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

"So, you mean that you're already a billion years old? And your father is Lucifer, the Devil himself... Your grandfather's God?" Tony asked, then you nodded your head as you settle on the couch in the common room, with a bowl of ice cream in your hands.

"Yeah, my grandfather's God, after all, he's my dad's father. That's how it works, right? You still find it hard to believe, huh? An angel in Avengers." You winked at Tony, then you smirk before taking a spoonful of ice cream into your mouth. "Trust me, it isn't easy to get used to this visual, Stark." You chuckle.

"If you're an angel, that means there are others here on Earth, where were you guys when we needed help?" You shrugged at Steve's question, he scoffed as if he's annoyed with your lack of response. "Maybe they didn't want anything to do with y'all, and besides you guys look like you can handle yourselves." You told Steve.

"Yeah, right, I do believe your abilities, Morningstar, but I'm not buying your background story." You rolled your eyes, before placing down the cold dessert you're snacking on the table. "Oh, Rogers, my father never taught me to lie." You smiled, annoying the man than he already is.

Tony watches your whole interaction with Steve with interest, fiddling with a pen, and chuckling when he saw Rogers clenching his jaw in annoyance.

"The Devil? Lucifer's daughter? Not telling lies? Are you hearing yourself? You're being disrespectful to God if you go on with that story of yours." Steve lets out, then you blew raspberries and not wanting to deal with Rogers, instead, you stood up and made your way towards him.

"Believe what you want to believe, Rogers, I'm only telling the truth here." You patted his muscular chest, he swatted your hand off him, and you fetched your bowl of half-eaten ice cream and you bid your goodbye to Tony.

On your way back to your room, Pietro was speeding past you and almost knocked the treat off from your hold, he quickly came back when he realized what he did.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to bump? Crash? Eh, you know what I mean" He stuttered with his words as if he's a middle-school kid asking the girl he likes to dance, you softly smiled at the latter, and noticing his face getting red.

"I know, you've got nothing to worry about, Pietro, I'm sure you'll catch me when I fall, right?" You batted your eyelashes at him, then he smiled foolishly. "Of course, I wouldn't want an angel falling when I'm capable of catching her." He flirted, then he tensed up when the two of you heard someone clearing their throat.

It's his twin sister, Wanda Maximoff, you can't deny that the siblings got great genes, considering how good-looking the two are.

"Пьетро, я считаю, тебе пора идти, Фьюри тебя ищет. Флирт во время работы не рекомендуется. (Pietro, I believe you should get going now, Fury's looking for you. Flirting during the job isn't advisable.)" Wanda suddenly spoke in their native language, the latter must be assuming that you're not able of understanding them.

"Что у тебя такое взъерошенное перо? Я только извиняюсь перед Морнингстар, я чуть не врезался в нее. (What's got your feather all ruffled? I'm only apologizing to Morningstar, I almost crashed into her.)" Pietro defended himself, crossing his arms over his chest and glancing towards your direction, you decided to shut up and listen furthermore to their conversation.

"Просто уходи, тебе не захочется заставлять Фьюри ждать. (Just go, you wouldn't want to keep Fury waiting)" Wands told her brother, you took another spoonful of ice cream into your mouth, awkwardly standing in between the twins.

"Хорошо, я вернусь, как только смогу, береги себя, сестра. (Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can, take care, sister.)" Pietro says before speeding off, leaving you and Wanda alone in the hallway, and you thought maybe this is the perfect time to let her know you understood their whole conversation.

"О, я могу понять Соковиана, Ванда, поверь мне, я только шучу с твоим братом, мне нравится его сестра. (Oh, I can understand Sokovian, Wanda, trust me I'm only joking around with your brother, it's his sister that I like.)" The latter widened her eyes when you spoke fluently as if you've been a citizen in Sokovia, you softly laughed finding her reaction adorable.

"О чем ты говоришь? (What are you talking about?)" She spoke with her brows knitted in a frown, and a smile dangled on the corner of your lips. "Зависит от того, как ты хочешь это понять, красавица. (Depends on how you'd like to understand it, beautiful.)" You told Wanda.

"Я- гм, мне пора, Наташа меня ждет. (I- Uhm, I've got to go Natasha's waiting for me.)" She stuttered just like her twin earlier, seems like no one can match your boldness in the team. "Хорошо, увидимся, скажи Наташе, что я сказал привет. (Alright, I'll see you around, tell Natasha I said hi.)" You say before proceeding into getting in your room.

With your back turned, you didn't get to see Wanda checking you out, her eyes watching how your hips rolled and undulated while making your way into your respective room.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

As soon as Pietro arrived he didn't show himself to Fury when he overhears him talking to Rogers, and they were talking about you. "I still think it's stupid that you're just going to allow that Morningstar in the team, we don't know where that girl came from, why does suddenly everybody trust her?" Pietro heard Steve who is furious.

"You let the Maximoff twins into the team, did you hear something from me?" Fury retorted, cocking his eyebrow upwards at the latter. "Because we knew where they came from, how they have their abilities, and their background," Steve replied.

"Bring Y/N in one of your missions, see for yourself on how useful she is, and she already elaborated where she came from, why do you question the girl so much? Are you questioning my decisions, Rogers?" Fury stood up from his seat, then maintaining eye contact with Steve.

"Because her story is not so believable, Lucifer's daughter? Born and raised in hell? Her grandfather is God? She's spitting lies." Fury rubbed his temple at Rogers' stubbornness. "There's nothing I can do for you anymore at this point, that girl or her father is anything but a liar." Fury defended you.

Before Steve could speak, Pietro entered the room. "I heard you called for me?" Even he could feel the tension inside the office, Steve greeted the young man with a nod before leaving the place, "Just in time, Maximoff, I got an easy task for you." Fury says.

"Ready to comply, Sir," Pietro told with enthusiasm, but he can't help but worry about whatever Steve would do, to find out more about you. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, do you trust Y/N?" He asked the man behind the desk.

"What do you think, Maximoff?" He asked Pietro back, and the blonde just nodded his head, earning a smirk from Fury. You've only been in the compound for a week, you never did any missions yet, but you managed to gain everybody's trust, except Steve.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

"Miss Morningstar, Captain Rogers wishes for your presence at the common room." Vision spoke as he came out of your wall, at this point you're used to it so you don't mind him, entering and exiting without a word. "Vis? You know you can call me Y/N, right?" You spoke softly at the synthezoid.

"Ah yes, my apologies, Mis- Y/N." He smiled gently, which made your heart melt, you didn't know that this android is something of someone you'd find so adorable. "That's more like it, I'll be out in a minute to see, Rogers, you can go back to whatever you're doing, thanks for letting me know, Vis." You thanked him and before he would disappear, you hear a silent 'you're welcome'.

You came out of your room, then heading into the common room you see some equipment scattered and an unfamiliar man talking to Steve. "Captain Rogers? Missing me already?" You smiled confidently, yet all you receive is Steve's scrunched brows. "And hello, stranger." You greeted the man.

"This is John, he's the one who operates the machine to see if you're lying or not, I'll be asking you some questions," Steve told, and you sat down on the chair in front of the machine, then John started attaching some necessities to your body. "This seems… kinky?" 

John suddenly choked on his own, before settling himself next to you, and Steve crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you promise to tell nothing but the truth?" That's where he started, but you chuckle seeing him so serious and threatened? About you.

"Yes." You answered, them John says that you weren't lying.

"Where did you came from?" Rogers asked, then you rolled your eyes at his question that he probably asked for the nth time. "Hell, busy punishing bad people down there with Dad." John looks at you confusingly but he approved Steve that you're telling the truth.

"When did you come here on Earth?" He asked once more, and you let out an annoyed sigh. "Two years after my father came here." You answered truthfully, and Steve sighed in defeat when he told the Captain that you're telling facts.

An hour after Steve questioning you, and the lie detector on your side, the team saw you getting interrogated, then that's where nonsense questioning came in.

"Who do you think is the most attractive Avenger?" Sam asked, leaning against the door frame and you chuckle. "I'd say me but if you're asking for another it's either Nat or Wanda, I can't choose between them actually." Your answer, Wanda blushed at your compliment once again and Natasha smirked.

John nodded signing you told another fact. "Alright, enough of this, thank you for lending your time, John." Steve cut the fun and earned countless groans of disapproval from the team. You took off all the devices attached to your body, and you stretched your arms.

"Do you trust me now, Rogers? You ask Steve, instead of an answer you receive nothing but dead air. "I never tell lies." You added, but Steve didn't say anything and he escorted John out. 

"He'll warm up to you eventually, angel." Natasha commented, then you turn to her. "I know, I'll just give the old man some time to process all the information." You replied.

[rcksmith]

The Agreement part.2 — Kaz Brekker

Resume/Masterlist

Couple: Kaz Brekker/ Fem!Reader.

Warnings of series: Convenience/arranged marriage, swearing, mention of fight, mention of death, mention of desire, fluff, sensual, mention of post-traumatic stress.

Warnings of chapter: swearing.

Word count: 4k

A/N: I hope you guys like.💖

English is not my first language, so I so sorry if have a mistake.

Requests are closet. Love you ❤️

— — — —

“What?!” Your exclamation came out louder than intended, and perhaps sharper than expected.

The salty sea breeze came through the window once more. The smell of salt and ocean invaded the room and for a second it felt like being in a ship's cabin at sea.

Kaz looked at you as if you were some child. Or someone deaf. But if he was swimming in acidic thoughts, he didn't say them.

"Think carefully." His voice was firm and explicit, the ones men use to convince women of something. “You want freedom, don't you? Live your life without having to fulfill a man's whims or your father's expectations. You wants to be able to snow on a ship without having a date to go back and make your own destiny. You want just needing to care what new adventure knocks on your door and what promise of wonders life awaits. It is not?"

How did he figure it out so well in such a short time? Was he too shrewd or were you too transparent?

You nodded, unable to say anything. Perhaps out of perplexity at how Kaz read you so easily. Or maybe the way he looked like an overpoweringly beautiful fallen angel in the moonlight.

“And the only way to do that is to get married.”

You frowned. “As I recall, Brekker, I came here just so I wouldn't have to get married.”

“And it's a stupid plan.” God, you wanted to kill him. “You asked me to have the Dregs take you to the harbor without your father's spies noticing. But it turns out your father's spies already know you're here.”

Your breath was lost somewhere between lungs and nose.

“Since you arrived, the noise from the Crow Club downstairs has become less shrill. And this is not typical criminal behavior. Either they have adopted good manners or someone they know they should fear has joined the Club.” Kaz sat more relaxed in the armchair behind his desk, his dark blue eyes locked on you. “I would bet on the second option.”

“So I came here for nothing?” You were starting to get angry at his beating around the bush. Because you knew it was manipulation. Brekker was laying the groundwork and you understood that.

“I did not say that. Turns out you can never get rid of your father. Not when he's a man with the purchasing power able to buy an entire country. There will always be someone who will recognize you, someone who will find you. And for the right price, the whole world is capable of being bribed. You would run away only to be chased by other spies, other people wanting the reward your father will give to whoever brings you back home.”

Very early on, you realized that Kaz Brekker was capable of crushing dreams as easily as crushing an insect. His destructive power was colossal and you saw all of your desires floating under his palm. Waiting just for him to brutally clench his fist and crush them.

But that's not what he did.

“You'll only get what you want if you follow his orders.” The breeze came through the window once more, ruffling her charcoal hair. “But if you can't defeat your enemies, change the rules of the game.”

“And is that where marriage to you comes in?”

“See it.” His body leaned very gently across the table towards you, it was a millimeter and ridiculous gesture, but it felt like him standing a breath away from you. “What you need is to get married. But marrying someone who doesn't give a damn about what you're going to do, and don’t have expectations of you. Someone who is not interested in home life, family life or Any other things you can offer other than money.”

Any other things you can offer. The night breeze this time was accompanied by an impure, almost obscene scene of the fallen angel in front of you on a bed of black duvets and caustic weather. A moment when the ends of his black hair brushed your forehead and your nose, moving back and forth as followed the rhythm of his hips and…

The sea breeze was gone, taking the obscene image with it and bringing back your common sense. For a second you wondered where that came from! You hadn't been in his presence for more than two hours and the entire compilation of what it was like Kaz Brekker, so far, had frightened you and attracted you in an absurdly dangerous way.

"And are that you came, I suppose." You hoped your voice couldn't give away your impure thoughts from seconds ago. “Do you want us to form an alliance where you receive my dowry and in return I am free from my father's demands and can do as I please with my freedom?"

“Alliance is a very strong term for what we are doing here.” He was succinct, “I would tell you to look at this as a business transaction. A marriage document is still just a piece of paper. And nothing else. Don't get carried away by sentimentalism. Things only have feelings if you want them to.”

Kaz was right, you knew that. For all your belief in true love and the many books romance novels you devoured, you still understood that a marriage could very well be seen as a business translation. It are a sad, cold way to see something so beautiful, but it still true.

“I have no interest in anything other than your dowry and you have no interest other than freedom. So what I'm proposing is something very sensible and objective. When we get married, your father will set you free, and you won't have any husband to please or any other crap. I don't want and don't expect anything from you, I don't care if you're sailing to Ravka or venturing on The Fold.”

“Do you want the money out of greed or despair?”

Kaz took a second to get a better look at you after that sneaky question. You had asked the correct question amid so many banalities and he realized that you were more cunning than you looked.

If he wanted to know your secrets, you also wanted to know his.

“A bit of both.” He was sincere.

“And what do you intend to do with my father's industries? Because you would win them too. And any misdirection could end up reducing my father's empire to nothing, and I don't want him to see the thing he loves most in ruins.”

Brekker heard the feelings in your voice. There was a hidden pang of hurt, but a lot of determination and honesty. You loved your father and understood him, even if you didn't agree with his principles. You had a fair and upright nature and were able to move mountains to get things done the way you thought was right. That was a red flag for Kaz. You were a good person. And he not.

He could never promise you things that go back to a good guy. But he could promise you honesty and justice. Kaz Brekker would never take something from someone the way it was taken from him so many years ago. He was a monster. But never in the same category as Pekka.

“I have no interest in having an empire doomed to fail.” His eyes were serious. “My motivation has always been greed. Why would I sink the company that is capable of making me such a rich man?”

He would have to be an idiot to let such a lucrative business go. And Kaz Brekker was anything but an idiot.

“Would you let me do anything I want?”

“I have no interest in what you don't or do.”

You hesitated for a second, as if remembering another detail. “My father doesn't believe in divorce, and even if he did, I would be pressured to remarry. Do you understand that we couldn't divorce?”

“I have no desire to marry again. And you might as well get other men you want without making a fuss, without your father finding out.” Always rational and objective. Without any inclination to the heart's desires. “There is no room in this world for feelings. Much less in this agreement. If you fall in love with someone you will have to be content with just relating to them, not getting married. And it seems like a small price to pay for so many benefits.”

It was the perfect plan. Did you know that. It was rational, objective and cunning. Something advantageous for both without costing too much. But why did you feel that something could go very wrong? You were a romantic person and you knew you could see things where they didn't exist. The truth was, you would have to leave your heart completely out of the picture.

Just a business transaction.

Brekker seemed to see a hint of hesitation in your eyes.

“It's very simple, Ms. Y/L/N.” That voice that gave you goose bumps hovered in front of you. “You marry me and you still have your freedom, because I don't give a damn about what you do after.”

“20 million from Kruges. Rich.” his eyes gleamed with a deep glow.

“And how do I know this isn't a trick?”

“I don't promise lies.” His firm face was serious “I won't give you happiness, Y/n. Much less love. Love doesn't exist in Kerch. But I will give you freedom, independence, a comfortable life that you are accustomed. And it seems to be much more than you have now.”

You knew you could be making a deal with the devil. Selling your soul to that man with the face of a fallen angel and the aura of Lucifer. But what choice did you have?

You couldn't go back if you sealed that deal. That man would be bound whit you, even by a piece of paper, for a lifetime. Was it worth the price? You didn't care for your father's press to want to be in the management and you had a lot more money than twenty million Kruges. What would you be missing? Your chance to marry one day whit someone you came to love? But if you came home without someone one day from now your father would marry you to a gargoyle. And the way out to flee no longer seemed a viable option.

Yes, it was worth it.

Seeming to see from the glint in your eyes that you've made a decision, Kaz Brekker, Bastard of the Barrel, reached out a leather-gloved hand toward you. His eyes sparkled with a mysterious spark, the scent of male cologne with a hint of danger lurking around the room. And for a moment, you felt a shiver go up your spine and the feeling that your life had just begun.

“Agree to marry me?” He said.

The feeling was that you were about to embark on the greatest adventure of your life. You didn't know what that little stunt with Kaz Brekker awaited you. But you would find out.

“Yes.” You took his hand in a firm, intense handshake that held a million secrets.

A satisfied, victorious smile came to his lips. And whenever Kaz gave him that expression, it felt like seeing the fallen angel that was the reason so many humans sinned. The clouds in the sky shifted, moving out of the moon's path and making the distilled rays of light shimmer more brightly. His black hair and white skin were graced with those bundles, and for a second his beauty was overwhelming.

You held your breath.

Brekker continued to say something, but you couldn't pay attention. Your heart began to race, the moonlight following in his footsteps as Kaz got up from his chair and went to fetch some papers from across the room. You couldn't tear your eyes away from him. His body was taller and thinner than you deduced when he was sitting down. Kaz had long, slender legs beneath black straight-cut pants, his chest was broad and his waist was narrow. For a second, you felt like running your hand over the contours of his body.

You shifted your attention forward abruptly. Focusing eyes on something else.

That was the curse of handsome men. They fooled women and made them daydream. With his underworld god beauty and mysterious aura with a touch of danger, Kaz Brekker was overwhelmingly attractive. And your blood reacted to that. Any woman would have reacted the same way.

“And we'll have to leave tomorrow morning…” he sat opposite you again.

“Sorry, what?”

You turned your attention to his words, not remembering half of what he said seconds ago. Kaz looked at you intently this time, squinting his eyes millimetrically, as if he was trying to guess which paths your mind had wandered in for the past two minutes.

“Your deadline is the day after tomorrow, isn't it?”

"Yes." You got back to the core of the problem once more. “The trip to my house takes a few hours. Half a day if it's raining.”

Kaz had his eyes on the papers in his hands, maybe they were maps or documents, but you didn't feel like craning your neck to see what it was. Leaning over to view the papers meant getting closer to Brekker, and two hours in his presence was enough for you to understand that nothing good would happen if you got any closer. Or maybe you didn't trust your own feelings and emotions.

“This will have to be done very discreetly.” He didn't look up from his papers. “If any rumors about our deal reach the wrong people, your father will hear about our plan. And that meant you will being forced to marry someone else, and me without my money. Does anyone know you're here because you planned to run away?”

You shook your head. “No. I didn't get to tell my friends. But now that the plan is different, I intend to tell a friend that…”

“You can't tell anyone.” Kaz lifted ocean blue eyes to you in an electrifying look that made you shiver.

“And what is supposed to say to my friends?” You felt a pang of indignation.

“That we are in love.”

This time, your breath was gone. The phrase was like pouring gasoline on an old, flammable woodpile. And you were afraid of what might be the match that would set off a fire.

Kaz noticed your reaction and was amused by it. “Just say some nonsense about falling in love with a criminal. It wouldn't be the first time a rich little girl has fallen in love with the bad guy, and I guarantee it won't be the last.”

“And you won't tell anyone about the truth too?” You wanted to change the focus you.

“I don't have to answer to anyone.”

This time you gave a smug smile and crossed your arms in an insolent gesture. “So everyone will think the infamous Kaz Brekker, Dirty Handes and Ketterdam's most dangerous gangster is in love with a rich little girl?”

Kaz narrowed his eyes at your teasing.

“It won't be the first time that the man with a bad temper and dangerous soul falls in love with the little girl. And I'm sure it won't be the last.” You said.

You were provocative, witty and stubborn. You would always hit at the same height and loved to show people that could very well play their game. Brekker unraveled this perfectly. You weren't the kind of woman who would be peaceful, serene, and calm. You wouldn't be like Inej. You would not take his orders and his taunts in silent, contained rage. You were intense. And that was a danger.

Why did he get the feeling you were so much more than he imagined?

“Let's go to your house tomorrow morning. Nine in the morning.” He changed the subject. “I'll go with you and we'll get married.”

"My father must be preparing everything by now." You sighed. “He takes his promises very seriously and I have no doubt that, when I returns, the ceremony scene will be set in the party garden.”

Partly you were relieved about it now. Planning a ceremony are intense and personal. You never really thought about getting married, but you always imagined that if one day it happened it would be the man of your dreams. And you didn't know if you would want to organize a fake wedding. There were certain things that were inevitable to keep the heart from breaking.

“Better yet, the faster the better.”

The two of you discussed some more details of the plan in the next few hours. It was agreed that Kaz would pick you up at nine from your hotel tomorrow, in an elegant hired carriage (which you obviously would be paying for) and the two of you would go to your house in Kerch. For all intents and for all people, the truth would be that the two of you were in love. It was such a typical cliché that it wouldn't be the least bit hard to believe.

And after a while, you two could already show yourself to the world as a couple who barely saw each other. Rich society was full of them: marriage with coldness and distance, where the man has his bets and lovers and the woman her travels and her jewelry. Your father would surely understand and leave you alone. After all, he had gotten a son-in-law to inherit his empire. A young son-in-law with blood for business who would make your father extremely satisfied. However, now the two of you had to look like a couple in love. And the reality of the situation was a secret that only the two of you would take with you to the tomb.

But, that night it was difficult for you to sleep. Anxiety, restlessness and fear gnawed at you like cunning mice, rolling you from side to side in bed, whispering in your ears millions of futures where everything could go wrong. Where not even Kaz Brekker's plans could free you from the clutches of one of your father's suitors.

When the clock struck seven in the morning, you jumped out of bed with unsettling, restless energy. You didn't like feeling helpless and waiting for Brekker to show up was exactly the definition of a princess in trouble. You had to do something.

- -

“What do you mean to get married?!” Jesper choked on his breakfast, and Nina nearly spit out all her orange juice.

Kaz rolled his eyes and continued sorting through the documents on the large round table. He was going to be gone for a few days at most and needed the people he trusted most to take care of business while he was gone. There were a lot of robberies to do and Kaz spent the night crafting and modifying plans for options where he wasn't involved. He had made a list of what needed to be checked at ports and what needed to be resupplied at Crow clube.

The plan was to marry you when they arrived in Kerch and return to Crow Club the next day. Kaz knew he would have to bring you, the two of you would have to stay together until your dowry was delivered to him. After that you could go on any adventure you wanted.

But dealing with the Crows was being more exasperating than Kaz could have expected.

"I didn't even know you had a girlfriend!" Wylan was in shock.

"Nobody knew!" Nina and Inej had their chins on the floor. Matthias was the only one who didn't seem to care so much.

"I didn't know the affairs of my private life were your business." Kaz didn't look up from the papers he kept in folders for the stupid ones.

"But you never said anything." Inej said.

"It was the intention."

"It's with Y/n, isn't it?" Jesper had bright eyes and a gleeful gambling smile stretched across his lips.

Kaz looked up at the boy with chocolate creamy skin, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

“She spent hours in yours office last night.”

"Oh my Santis!" Inej, Nina and Wylan exclaimed at once, eyes wide.

"The daughter of the richest man in Kerch." Wylan said.

"YOUR DOG!" Jesper clapped Kaz on the shoulder with an open palm, a loud laugh echoing and joy filling his voice.

Kaz suppressed the urge to look at the spot where Jesper had touched him. It had been years since he'd gotten over the most brutal aversion to touch, when the mere thought of getting close to someone made him tingle and dizzy with imminent fainting. At 28 years old, Kaz Brekker had proven to be greater than the demons and weaknesses that haunted him, wanting to see his downfall. A man who wanted to defeat Pekka could have no weaknesses. And he prided himself on almost have none of them.

However, offhand gestures made him look at the spot where he had been touched. The sensation brought was not unbearable or nauseating, but strange. And when the situation was skin to skin in a touch that caught him off guard, the feeling was unpleasant. Like a splinter under the skin.

It was easier with people Kaz felt comfortable with, but it wasn't something he cared about. He forced himself to overcome the most brutal aversion just to be a man without weaknesses, no chance of being defeated in a torture, no chance of being defeated by a faint. No for to touch someon.

“I thought you didn't know her in person when I warned you yesterday.” Inej tried to contain her little smile.

“It was the intention. You guys forgot the definition of secret…”

"Boss." One of the employees had entered that exclusive room. "There's someone here wanting to talk to you, Sir." He looked apprehensive.

Kaz frowned. The crow club had no movement at eight in the morning.

"Who is?"

"I think…"

"Will you please let me through!" The female voice sounded outside the room.

Jesper and the rest of the gang were wide-eyed, mouths opening in amusement and bewilderment. Kaz was catatonic. What the fucking hell were you doing there?!

"What do you mean I can't talk to your boss?!" And you continued. “I spoke to him yesterday...Don't give me these arguments, my dad tells his employees to tell people exactly that...I swear if you touch out about me again I will...”

"Fucking hell!" Kaz came out from behind the counter, crossing the living room and opening the door.

He came face to with that scene. A short girl who argued with a bouncer who was triple her height and size. Kaz knew the man was arrogant and macho, and had probably nudged your temper. He would have been amused by the scene if he wasn't abgry that you didn't follow his explicit rules.

“Ray.” Kaz glanced at the bouncer, a steady gaze that made the brute immediately back away from you.

You even gave the man an angry look before heading towards Kaz.

"What are you doing here?!" He whispered angrily.

"I couldn't wait." You wiggled your fingers, a tic of anxiety. “I could barely sleep. It was lucky I didn't show up at six in the morning.”

“That's not excuses. We have a schedule!"

“But I couldn't wait!" You whispered too. “It's visseral. I can't just sit there and wait!”

What an insufferable creature!

"Well, you'll have to learn because…!"

"What are you two whispering back there? “ Jesper's voice interrupted the discussion in whispers.

The two of you turned to the troupe standing in the doorway of the Crow room. Playful, mischievous smiles were plastered across their faces, and you felt your cheeks blush. Kaz and you looked at each other, and in that second of silent complicity, the two of you finally stepped into the roles of partners in crime.

Tagged: @aleksanderwh0r3 @thedelusionreaderbitch @hi-there-x @mell-bell @glowingatdawn @subjecta13-thefangirl @itsnotquimey @thatchampagnebitch @lamoursansfin @lostysworld @s3xymoonman @is-it-really-a-secret

[withinycu]

open

"To be honest I don't keep in contact with a lot of the fallen. All this possession shit never made much sense to me. Frankly, I'd feel kinda embarrassed terrorizing a bunch of pre-pubescent girls."

[women-loving-art]

Alice Pike Barney Natalie at Seven, 1883 / Natalie and Missa, 1890 / Natalie Barney in Fur Cape, 1896 / Natalie with Necklace, c. 1900 / Lucifer, 1902

Some of the paintings that Alice Pike Barney (1857-1931) made using her daughter, Natalie Clifford Barney (1876-1972), as a model. 

“As the year [1900] closed, the fallout from Quelques portraits-sonnets de femmes [Natalie Clifford Barney’s lesbian poetry collection] caused a major break in the Barney family. It had taken months for word of the book to develop a strong buzz, but by now many people had read or at least heard about it. 

Natalie had been dropped by a few Washington society matrons, meaning that they refused to receive her in their homes. At least one family friend approached Natalie that summer, begging her to give up, for the sake of her parents, the course on which she was headed.

In response to her critics, Natalie claimed that she didn’t care whether or not Madame so-and-so deigned to greet her on the street. As she once said of Colette’s first husband, Willy, “Not everyone is capable of knowingly creating a bad reputation for themselves.”

There was a certain hypocrisy to the way Natalie was treated. [...] Discretion (or, if you prefer, sexual hypocrisy) was considered a duty. Among Natalie’s past and future conquests were socialites who, though they preferred the embraces of women, led ostensibly “normal” lives. As long as they married, had children, did charitable work, and managed fine homes, nobody much cared what they did behind closet doors. In the end, Natalie’s greatest sin was not that she was a lesbian, but that she refused to be quiet and ashamed about it. 

One day, Albert Barney [her father] picked up the society gossip journal Town Topics and read a small but fatal headline: Sappho sings in Washington. With that single headline, his world exploded. Highly intelligent and far from naive, his suspicions about his beloved daughter had long ago turned to certainty.

The Town Topics piece, entwining his daughter’s name with that of a perverted Greek harlot, fulfilled his worst nightmares of scandal. The fact that his wife had contributed the artwork to Natalie’s book [three of the four women who modelled for her were her daughter's lovers] constituted a double knife thrust to the heart. How, he wondered, would he ever live this down? 

The timing and exact circumstances of what happened next are impossible to pinpoint. The entire episode wasn’t one that anyone in the family wished to  remember, let alone document. It’s telling that Alice, who scissored from the newspapers each mention of her girls for permanent inclusion in her scrapbook, didn’t bother to keep the big Sappho Sings article.

What is true is this: Albert stormed into the editorial offices at Ollendorff in Paris to buy, and then destroy, the remaining copies and all printing plates for Quelques portraits-sonnets de femmes. His action doubtless accounts for the book’s extreme rarity today. 

He then brutally pulled the blinders from Alice’s eyes about the meaning of the poems in Quelques sonnets. He berated her ceaselessly, and would until his death, for having so naively contributed paintings of Natalie’s lovers to the book. 

The revelation about Natalie’s sexuality stunned Alice. The evidence had been there for years, obvious to all, but she had been in complete denial. Now, forced to accept the truth, she was shocked and sickened. For perhaps the first time ever she was unable to apply the laissez-faire philosophy that had defined her approach to life. 

In early January 1901 the Barneys boarded a ship to New York, leaving Natalie behind. Though weakened by illness, he constantly lambasted Alice, enumerating her countless sins, the greatest of which was the evil inherent in Natalie’s character. As usual, she endured the abuse by politely ignoring him. Deep within, however, she was awash in conflicting emotions. She loved and admired her daughter, but was horrified by her lesbianism. Late in January, she made her feelings clear in a letter that must have devastated Natalie:

It has come at last. Your father is quite crushed by this and really very pathetic. How perhaps you, through your disregard for us and your callousness, may remember my disgust when you would speak of this forbidden sin—and realize that every right-minded decent person is condemning you and us—as they would of the greatest evil... I am too sick and ill to write more. I used to feel sorry for Mrs. Hoy when people said things of Mattie—and how small her sin was—if true—compared with yours, which you broadcast about, as if being evil is not bad enough.

But you must in every way, to every person, make yourself a horror and a danger... Your only chance to redeem yourself is to change your life and writings and remember that in no way can you defend yourself—or reply to this [Town Topics] article... For there is not the slightest loophole. You have closed every escape. [...] You have done a bad thing—a sin against law and mankind and I can only hope that your ideas have shocked and horrified instead of converting.

It took months for Alice to accept Natalie’s nature, but eventually the truth brought mother and daughter closer. No longer engaged in subterfuge and lies, Natalie’s new relationship with Alice was easier, friendlier, and more honest. After her initial repugnance, Alice tried to see Natalie’s sexuality as simply part of her nature—a nature similar in many other ways to her own. “How much of myself I’ve passed on to you,” she wrote years later. “You’re cultivated and I—not—but we’ve got the same traits, grabbing here and there, dashing from this to that. So much of the monkey in us.”

There would be many times in the future when Natalie and Alice didn’t get along, but at its heart their relationship remained strong and loving. Each took pleasure in the other’s accomplishments. “I’m terribly proud of you,” Alice would write; or “I can’t express my admiration, my child.” They would collaborate in writing plays, visit each other, and always, no matter where they might be, there were the affectionate letters. 

Only once, many years later, did Alice reveal the pain that Natalie caused her. It happened when Natalie made a casual observation. “Mother,” she remembered saying. “You have so happy a temperament that I cannot imagine anything that has ever been able to cause you more than a passing sorrow.”

Alice drew back as if struck. She appeared embarrassed, and looked away. Natalie laughed, curious to know what could possibly have shaken her mother’s legendary equanimity, but Alice remained stubbornly and uncharacteristically silent. 

Growing uneasy, Natalie pressed for an answer. Alice hesitated, gazing back over the years to a moment of sorrow so great that it obviously pained her to recall it now. And then, slowly, she faced her daughter, staring with profound sadness into those ice-blue eyes. “You,” she muttered, almost as if speaking to herself. “You...’”

— Suzanne Rodríguez, from Wild Heart: A Life, Natalie Clifford Barney and the Decadence of Literary Paris 

[misterspectacular]

Jack was the reason Castiel realized he was in love with Dean.

It happened in season 14, episode 2 after this particular discussion:

Jack is Castiel's mirror. Jack shows Castiel who he is, because Jack is (as most children are) a reflection of those who raised him. In Jack's case, he's especially a reflection of Cass (Castiel is more a father to him than the others). 

Jack, here, is behaving very much like Castiel did in 13x14 (Good Intentions).

In that episode, Castiel basically thinks Jack brought him back (from the Empty) so that he can prepare... to defeat Michael.

--skip ahead--

So after this, Dean and Cass were sent on a mission by Donatello and almost die as a result -- they realize they were set up by Donatello. We find out the reason Donatello was trying to get them killed is because he’s soulless and his mind was corrupted by the tablet as a result (souls act as a sort of filter). He thinks he needs to protect the tablet, protect the power and the knowledge, so he’s refusing to tell them what he’s translated (which is the entire thing).

So Sam and Dean are trying to get the info out of Donatello, and Castiel watches from the computer while they do. It doesn’t seem that anyone’s really considered killing Donatello.

But Donatello, during this, suffocates Dean with his magic.

AKA

And Cass freaks out, cause of course.

And then he wants to DESTROY DONATELLO. Look at this. I love the camera angles, and the zooming up, and Castiel’s little “I’m gonna kill him” face. How dare he do that to Dean?

This is literally the moment that Castiel decides, you know what. I’m gonna kill this guy. Yet he kind of plays it off like it’s just because he doesn’t have a soul, this is the KIND thing to do.

But does this face say “oh, poor guy, we should end his suffering“?

No. This face says “I am going to destroy you”.

So he says, let’s end his suffering, it’s better if we kill him because if he dies then another prophet comes into being... one that will give them the translation. Sam and Dean are both very against this idea, even if it means it’ll open up the portal and they’ll get their mother and Jack back. And Sam says, no, we don’t need to kill the guy, we just need the spell. So Castiel says “fine” and rushes to go lock himself in the room with Donatello.

Castiel asks if Donatello knows the spell they need. And Donatello confirms that he does, but that Castiel is wasting his time. He didn’t give the spell to Sam and Dean, and he’s not going to give it to Cass either.

Castiel removes his wings -- I mean, his overcoat, cause he’s gonna do some dastardly deeds and he knows it.

So it’s back to what I said before. As soon as Donatello used his magic to suffocate Dean, he wanted to destroy the bastard. And he may have other reasons for doing what he’s doing, risking his life, Donatello’s life, but I definitely think he was considering other methods up UNTIL Donatello hurt Dean. (Actually, those “other reasons” are to stop Lucifer and MICHAEL. So that actually relates to Dean, too -- wanting to stop Michael. And “anyone else” I believe IS “Michael”. From the beginning of this episode, Castiel has stated that he feels it’s his duty to stop him, and I don’t doubt that he has fears related to Michael wanting to use this reality’s Dean as a vessel).

So Castiel stays behind while Sam and Dean take Donatello to the hospital.

--skip ahead--

So the interesting part here, is that Castiel is saying “I will do whatever it takes to stop Michael”, yet when Jack is talking to him in 14x02, Castiel is clearly considering all other options before he considers allowing Dean to die. He’s more focused on saving Dean than the rest of the world, which has always been the thing with Cass (“It was all about saving one man, right?” -- Metatron. And then the thing with the mark of Cain when Castiel says that he’ll “have to watch” Dean destroy the world, rather than “I’ll have to stop you from destroying the world”. Dean always comes first, even above the whole damn world).

So basically when Castiel says “whatever it takes”, it’s not “whatever it takes to save the world”, it’s “whatever it takes to save Dean”.

After all, “Dean Winchester is saved,” the angel uttered as soon as he’d gripped the man tight and raised him from perdition. It’s truly fitting, isn’t it?

So I think that conversation with Jack kind of showed him that, normally he IS on Jack’s side of things... just not when it comes to Dean. Never when it comes to Dean. And why would that be? ....

I kind of love how Castiel sort of tries to weave his way around admitting it, though (previous to 15x18). He has a tendency to do that sort of thing. I noticed it in 15x03 when he was talking to Belphagor.

This is absolutely, definitely true -- he’s telling the truth about how Belphegor wearing Jack is affecting him, BUT... Dean being upset with him is also a huge reason that he’s upset. He stated those things about being used because it IS on his mind. The scene just before this one kind of proves that, for me, as well:

Ten seconds later...

I do definitely think him using Jack’s body is incredibly upsetting but I also think Belphegor is stating a lot of what Castiel believes to be truths. I mean, we have to remember that the writers are doing this on purpose, and why else would they have Belphegor say all this stuff that’s meant to hurt Castiel if it’s not even gonna work (cause it’s not true). Cass is definitely not just angry because of the demon using his son’s body. This is actually the same ep that he “moves on” from Dean.

My point was, anyway, that Cass has this habit of kind of weaving his way around his own truths -- it’s not even that he lies, but he avoids saying or admitting to the most obvious truth which is that he’s in love with Dean.

I know I really branched off, here, but I have ADD so you’re gonna have to deal...  besides I make a lot of valid points, anyway.

[ayanna-wild]

Acceptance

Word Count: 1278

Pairings: Lucifer Morningstar x Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff

A/N: Request from anonymous

Summary: You should have believed him, he'd be honest from the start. However, it'd just seemed to unbelievable, too insane. But then you saw his face, his 'other' face and you knew. Now you were just going through the various stages of acceptance, and Lucifer's waiting very patiently, if not a bit apprehensivly, for you decide if you still want him in your life or not.

Only there seemed to be a misunderstanding, and the situation isn't exactly what he'd thought.

..................................................................................

You didn't know what to do at first.

Didn't know how to react or even how to process what you'd witnessed, when you'd walked into Lucifer's penthouse unannounced. That wasn't the issue though, both you and the handsome devil had a tendency to show up at one another's home unannounced, it was part of your dynamic. However, this time, just this once, seemed to be the worst time to walk in without warning.

He and Maze had been arguing, fighting over something you couldn't care to remember right now. Neither of them had seen you, and they probably wouldn't have, if you hadn't made a little squeak of a noise. It was all you could muster, your body stiff and frozen. Because it wasn't the fight, or their shouting. It was Lucifer's face, the distorted image, the burned and scarred skin.

The flash of his eyes.

The realization that'd he'd been telling the truth this whole time. Really though, why had you doubted it in the first place? He'd never lied to you before.

You were vaguely aware of him calling out your name as you backed into the elevator. Yet, you felt too numb to respond, choosing instead to lean heavily on the wall for support as the elevator doors closed.

You were in denial the entire drive back to your home. Your phone on silent and your head filled with thoughts you couldn't process. The car drifted off the road a few times as you zoned out, but you'd made it home relatively unscathed.

A flurry of thoughts and feelings went through you.

What was the best course of action? How did you even respond to such a situation? What happened now?

Unsure of where to begin, you locked your doors and went to bed, choosing instead to deal with it tomorrow.

~

As it turned out, the stages of acceptance was the same as the five stages of grief. You'd had denial. It consisted mostly of you staying in bed, sleeping and adamantly refusing to acknowledge what you'd seen.

Because it couldn't possibly be real right?

Once you had passed denial you moved onto anger.

You'd broken many things, screamed until your throat was raw, although the anger was more directed towards yourself than Lucifer.

After thoroughly screaming your throat raw, and breaking a few too many things you began to bargain with yourself.

You thought maybe it had all been a bad dream. Or perhaps you had just been incredibly drunk, despite the fact you hadn't been drinking. You tried to negotiate with yourself, which only served to make you feel crazy, which certainly didn't help the situation.

Now you were on depression, sitting on your couch, staring at the TV with eyes that burned from hours of crying. You supposed anger and depression went hand in hand, because while you were crying, you were also furious with yourself.

You'd left him!

You hadn’t even given him a chance to explain, and what's worse, you'd ignored him for the last two weeks. Once you had turned your phone back on, you were met with a barrage of missed calls and unread texts. Which in turn only served to make you more depressed. You didn't even want to move from the couch now, content to just sit there and cry for the next few days.

But there was a knock at your door.

Convincing yourself to stand wasn't easy, and when you saw who was on the side of the door, convincing yourself to open it was even harder. But you did, because it was Lucifer, and even after everything, you couldn't bear to turn him away. He looked so surprised and hopeful that it broke your heart.

"Oh love, you've been crying..." He frowned.

Wordlessly you stepped aside, vaguely waving him in. He seemed surprised but stepped over the threshold before you could change your mind, you carefully closed the door behind him. He stood there awkwardly for a few tense minutes before finally speaking once realizing you weren't going to.

"I'm sorry."

You furrowed your eyebrows, why was he apologizing?

"I never meant for you to find out that way, or ever really. Although I suppose it's not very fair that I never planned on showing you the truth."

Realization dawned on you, and you couldn't help but laugh lightly, causing a look of confusion and hurt to flash across his face.

"I'm sorry for laughing Luc, it's just... you think I'm crying because of your devil face?"

His confusion deepened, and he shifted from one foot to the other.

"Well yes, it is a perfectly reasonable response, one of many actually."

You gave him a tired smile.

"I'm sure it is, but I'm not crying over that, I'm crying because I thought I hurt you, I did hurt you."

Lucifer was silent for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"I'm not sure if I follow darling, are you not scared of me?" The way he asked was almost timid, and it broke your heart a bit.

"Of course not, I was never scared of you Lucifer."

"You ran." He pointed out, a bit bitterly.

You stepped closer to him, grabbing his hands in yours.

"Yes, but it wasn't because of you, not exactly. I was shocked to see your devil face, I'll admit I had trouble processing it at first, but I was never scared of you. My whole life just got turned upside down when I realized, if you're actually the devil, then so many other things must be real."

Lucifer looked at you surprised, and you stepped away from him, pacing slightly as you rambled on.

"I mean heaven, hell. If those are real, then who's to say so many other things aren't, and if they are how do they fit in to all this, and how haven’t I noticed before. I mean could magic be real? What about other supernatural creatures? If there are angels and demons there must be more right?"

Lucifer stared at you in awe as you ranted, occasionally looking towards him as you made some wild motion with your hands. The more you talked, the more he began to smile, until finally he was laughing. A deep laugh that shook his chest and brought your words to a halt.

It was your turn to look confused, and he walked over to you, pulling you into his arms, as his laughter died down to a chuckle.

"And all this time I'd assumed the worst, when really, all you were doing was processing the drastic change in your life."

You relaxed in his hold, wrapping your arms around his waist as he rested his chin on the top of your head.

"I could never be scared of you Luci, you may be the devil, and your other face may have shocked me, but you're still Lucifer, you're still the same man you've always been, still my handsome devil, and I still love you just the same."

He smiled, a content, happy smile, and he pulled away to kiss your forehead, lips lingering against your skin.

"I love you too darling, father knows I truly don't deserve you." You smiled back, reaching up to fix his collar, before your eyes widened.

"Oh my god, God is real."

Lucifer pulled you back into his embrace, chest rumbling with laughter as he held you closely.

"What am I going to do with you my dear?"

As you reached the final stage, acceptance, your laughter joined in with his, and you decided, this is exactly where you wanted to be. Wrapped in the embrace of the man, or rather devil, you loved.

..................................................................................

Tag List: @sallyp-53 @mizzezm @adira-secrets @we-are-all-alittle-strange-here @gingernarwal @im-just-along-for-the-ride @lifeshortbro @measure-in-pain @emiwrites3reads @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @kelly-n-russell @aiofheavenandhell @beththedemonhunter

[twiceasfrustrating]

Absolutely Nothing

I said I wouldn't post my new fic until after SWBQ is done, but I want to begin posting it before S4 drops. It won't update consistently atm, but it's there... I will only be posting the first two chapters to Tumblr. Everything else is going on AO3 because Tumblr is not longfic friendly.

Rating: Teen and Up

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Category: Gen

Fandom: Shall We Date?: Obey Me!

Characters: Main Character, Lucifer, Mammon, Leviathan, Satan, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Belphegor, Diavolo, Barbatos, Simeon, Luke, Solomon, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Original Angel Character(s)

Additional Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, War, Trauma, Abuse, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Canon is like a vampire, it can't enter this house unless I let it, Emotional Baggage, Lies, Manipulation, Ships not intended but I'm not stopping you

Summary: War is not unknown to the three realms, but that does not make them any less a tragedy of strategy. Though relations between the three have never been favorable, they have never truly gone to battle with each other. At least, not until now. The heavens have been planning for a long time and have finally decided to execute their machinations. Now it is time to see how every piece will play out this bloody battle.

A/N: These tags are for the overarching fic, not the first two chapters. Only Lucifer, Simeon, Micheal, and Gabriel show up in the first two chapters.

Chapter 1: I Will Not Go With You

“We’re heading for a war,” Lucifer warned, “and I want you to come with me.”

Simeon solemnly blinked a few times before closing his eyes. The weight of the choices laid before him pricked at the edges of his mind. He’d known this was coming. He’d known for a long time that this question would eventually be asked of him and for just as long he’d known what his answer would be, “I must decline.”

“Why?” Lucifer spat out, “Simeon, you have to know what’s about to happen. If we don’t fight then Lilith-”

“I am not stopping you from this rebellion.” He opened his eyes and looked to the pages stacked neatly in the corner of his desk, carefully flipping through the avalanche of writings he’d collected over the years. Somewhere, buried deep in the pile, he vaguely recalled his moment; where his brother would ask him to do the impossible. He’d hidden it away from prying eyes, afraid that others would find it and interpret it as he had. Though, even if they had read it and understood what the contents were, it was nigh impossible to change the events that were foretold.

He pulled the page from the pile, taking care so the others above it would not collapse onto the delicately inlaid wood of his desk, and perused the contents held within. The paper was so old that it had begun to grow fragile to the touch and discolor at the edges. Simeon desperately wished that time had chosen not to show its touch on this particular relic he would rather have forgotten about. It was frightening how long he’d known about this day and he would rather pretend he was shocked when Lucifer had come to him. Sometimes, having a glimpse into what would eventually be was a cruel reality.

That brother, who would come in need of his fellow, will find no quarter. So shall he return with hands left empty, but convictions emboldened by the forge of his stature. He shall take with him those who share his resolve and lead them to where metal sings and cries. Blood shall be shed but on one side, though the cost of the blood spilled shall

It was an old, short paragraph he wished he could forget. Though he could never truly put it out of his mind, because he knew it was left unfinished and his mind and pen longed to see the end of the story. However, his heart and will would prefer not to know every detail of this particular future. For so long, he’d clung to that final shall and hoped that not knowing the entirety of the story would somehow keep it from unfolding. However, his pen only put the stories to page. He was not responsible for the events that inspired him to write.

“You will have to make do with those who are already on your side. No one else will turn their back on Father for your cause.” It was the only warning he could give. In those words he hid the message that Lucifer should tell no one else. If war was approaching, then it was better he have the element of surprise.

Lucifer could only stare at him in disbelief, “Is that your answer?”

“It always was.” He placed the paper face down atop the pile, “I cannot aid you in this, Lucifer.”

“Then you would fight against me? You would condemn Lilith in the same way as our Father?” His voice shook, the rage building inside of him clearly beginning to boil over even as he tried to contain it.

“I will not betray my family.” Simeon’s face remained unchanged as he pushed his chair away from the desk and rose to his feet. Despite the malicious aura that began to circle around his fellow Seraphim, he approached with an unguarded stance until they were only an arm’s reach away from one another. No matter how upset Lucifer may become, Simeon would not fear him. Though, he did fear *for* him, “You and she are still of my kind and that means I will not meet you on the battlefield.”

Lucifer’s eyes widened at the declaration. This time, it was his turn to fear for the other, “You can’t stay out of this. You know they won’t allow you.” If he did try to remain on the sidelines, Simeon would still be seen as a traitor. Not in the same vein as him and his siblings, but a traitor nonetheless, “I won’t ask you to fight if you really refuse to lift your blade, but you can’t stay here.”

“As much as you and Lilith are my family, so are Micheal, Raphael, Uriel, and Gabriel. I cannot leave them.”

“Simeon…”

Simeon’s lips pulled back into a smile and he let out the shortest of laughs, “You worry far too much, Lucy. You are aware that I am still a Seraphim, are you not? Even if I do not step onto the battlefield, I do not believe I am in nearly as much danger as you are putting yourself in.” He wanted to reach out and touch his brother one last time as the fear of the unknown overtook him, but he kept his hand within his own space. He did not know what would happen at the end of all of this, but he knew it would not be the same and reaching out to hold onto what they had would only pain them both.

Lucifer looked over the other angel’s shoulder, toward the pile of papers where Simeon had placed one face down. Countless writings that revealed the future to their author and Lucifer did not envy that gift. Others often wished to know what would be, but he had seen far too many times the burden placed on Simeon for having such a skill; the amount of times he had been made to see both grace and tragedy was carved on his face, just behind that smile. That is why, despite knowing that whatever was on that page was related to this very discussion and his ultimate goal, he would not pry. It was not as if knowing the future allowed it to be changed anyway.

“We’ll still be on opposing sides, you know?” No matter how much Simeon proclaimed not to betray his family, that was an unavoidable truth.

He nodded, “I am aware.”

“And you refuse to go against your family?”

This time his confirmation was wordless.

Lucifer took in a deep breath, “Then once the battle begins, I believe we can hardly be considered family anymore.”

Large blue eyes shot up to look at his pale face. It seemed that Lucifer had said something Simeon hadn’t expected, “What?”

“You will not betray your family, but you know they will not allow you to remain neutral in this. As soon as the drums of war beat, it is fine to stop thinking of me as your brother.”

There was a long moment of silence before Simeon could reply, “You cannot ask me that.”

“I am not asking. I am stating a truth,” one that would hopefully allow Simeon a way to follow his morals and gain some leniency if he continued to insist on this path, “I refuse to be your brother from that moment on.”

“Please... you cannot ask that of me.”

“I am not asking anything of you. I am simply stating where we will stand.” And now he needed to leave before the hurt welling in Simeon’s eyes tugged at his heart anymore and shattered his resolve.

He dipped his head in a polite bow, “Thank you for your time, Simeon. I do hope we may speak like this again.” He turned on his heels, refusing to truly look at the other angel again. His only goal was the door, where he opened it wide and stepped through the threshold.

“Lucifer! Wait!”

It took far more will than Lucifer would ever care to admit as he shut the door behind him without saying another word, and even more to walk away.

-----------------------

Chapter 2: Traitor

“How long have you known?” Micheal nearly growled as he stared down Simeon where he kneeled. His pale blue eyes ran wild with rage and it was clear he was just barely holding himself together. That was to be expected after everything he had just been through. Lucifer was unapologetically his favorite brother so it was unimaginable the distress he was in right now as he came to terms with having lost a member of his family. They had been like two halves of a whole, and now they were fractured.

“How long have I known what?” Simeon asked, feigning ignorance.

“That Lucifer would lead a rebellion against Father!” Micheal’s voice raised so loud that the room literally shook around him.

“Calm yourself, Micheal,” a melodious voice shushed him and lithe hands rested on his shoulders to hold him steady, “We’ve lost enough of our siblings today. There is no reason to lose yourself and risk losing another.”

“You would call him our brother after that disgraceful scene, Gabriel?” The disgust in his voice was clear and overwhelming, “He knew this would happen and refused to warn us or lift a finger. Everything we lost today is because of him.” Simeon had to know about today. He was blessed with the gift of prophecy and spent his time writing what was to come. If he had simply shared whatever he knew about today, Micheal knows they could have prevented the rebellion. He knows that he could have convinced Lucifer to stay somehow. Instead, he was left to face his own brother on the battlefield. He could still recall the cold eyes Lucifer had looked at him with as if they barely knew one another. That sight would never leave the darkest parts of his mind.

“You are blinded by your pain, Micheal.” She removed her hand from his shoulders and moved to stand over Simeon, “He is clearly as much our brother as ever. If he were against us he would have joined Lucifer, but Father has deemed that he is still worthy of his halo. Is that not enough for you?”

Micheal chuckled darkly before answering, “Uriel nearly lost an arm and he’s one of the lucky ones.” Even with so few numbers on their side, the rebellion had a gifted Dominion that made the most of their small force.

“And everyone harmed will heal, but we gain nothing in dividing ourselves further, and our brother has already been punished for his transgressions.” She took a knee before Simeon, reaching out her hand and running her fingers through his silken hair, “Will you not put our brother’s worries at ease, Simeon?”

Simeon knew the threat in those words. As kind as Gabriel pretended to be, she was someone he feared far more than Micheal. Not because she was stronger, but because she knew exactly how to most hurt those who upset her. As such, he had no interest in declining her wish, even if what she was asking for was for him to show his shame.

He took a deep breath before unfurling his wings behind him. They shimmered golden in the neverending light of the Celestial Realm, a blessing bestowed upon him by their Father that reflected his very essence. Every angel had such a blessing; different colors, shapes, a range of sizes, and lays of their feathers all differed from angel to angel all dependent on their Father’s grace. That included how high in their Father’s favor they were, and it was obvious at a glance just how out of favor Simeon had fallen. His six beautiful wings, the blessing afforded to all Seraphim, had been reduced to a simple two.

Gabriel’s eyes filled with pity for him but Micheal’s face twisted in glee and disdain, “Is that all? You betray us and all Father does is reduce your rank.” The laugh that left his throat was so dry that it sounded like it hurt, “You must really be beloved to get off with such a light sentence.” If it was up to Micheal himself, Simeon would face the same punishment as Lilith.

“Still your anger, Micheal. As you can see, Father has spoken.” She raised to her feet once more, her nails pulling painfully at Simeon’s hair as she stepped away from him, “Simeon is still of our kind and as one of our subordinates it is our duty to shepherd him.”

A wicked smile crossed Micheal’s face as he continued to look down on Simeon and his now unsightly form that marked his betrayal, “You may be correct, Gabriel. It is only right that we guide lost sheep, especially those of our own flock.”

[katsidhe]

Top 5 SPN relationships that aren't Dean&Sam

My top five actually all still include Sam, so first, here are some honorable mentions without him:

Kevin and Crowley: really fascinating combination of hatred and respect, and even trust, especially given Kevin and Crowley’s respective metamorphoses over the course of s8-9. They’re both in a way caught up in the machinations of Sam and Dean. Kevin of course loathes Crowley, but also kinda appreciates knowing where he stands with him. It was Crowley’s capture of him that pushed Kevin into becoming self-sufficient and paranoid and driven; it was Kevin’s escape and translation of the trials that pushed Crowley into being proactive in s8.

Jody and Alex: <3 their connection in 9.19 is so vital and real, based on shared loss and honesty.

Michael and Adam: Jake Abel has crazy chemistry with himself. And it’s endlessly interesting to speculate on how their relationship grew in the environment of the Cage.

Cas and Hannah: just, really nice to see Cas have a relationship with one of his siblings that is mostly positive and well-meaning (except when it’s not). Hannah represents all the good things about Heaven that Cas wants to preserve, both his complicated hopes and his frustrations with his native people. She offers him in return contrast and clarity.

5. Sam and Ruby

The hideous artistry of her manipulation! The insane chemistry! The ways that Sam’s victimhood here is tied up inextricably in his power, in moments of success and pride and trust and triumph! It’s so damn formative. The religious zeal in her love for him, the look in her eyes when she turned to him in 4.22 and fully believed that she had brought him to paradise, that she had helped him carry his cross and driven in the nails and together they would be rewarded—

4. Sam and Rowena

In a way, Sam and Rowena are an inversion of Sam and Ruby. Rowena’s transparently manipulative—she, too, uses Sam to set Lucifer free. She offers Sam power to beat impossible odds, in s10 and s11. But it’s so much less personal, for her: it’s not about using Sam, it’s about the ends she craves—her own power and freedom. So when she loses both in spectacular fashion, when she extends her vulnerability in s13 and Sam answers it with his own, it’s electrifying. It’s clear-eyed. Rowena is looking at someone she’s used and recognizing the hurt, and Sam sees a genuine need for connection in her. Their contrast is so good: she gives her wants and needs and pride an unfettered permission that Sam will not give his own, while Sam has lines in the sand that she does not. Drives me crazy, how much they trust one another by the end, although Sam knows how much she’s done, and Rowena knows Sam will be her death.

3. Sam and Jack

Sam as a father, oh, my heart. Sam and Jack are in some ways so simple, in the care and the regard they have for each other, in how Sam instantly adopted Jack and how Jack is instantly protective of him. But mostly they’re so complicated. The Lucifer thing is just the huge tip of the huge iceberg. Their relationship is founded on so many delicate lies and half-truths: Sam minimizes not just the extent of Lucifer’s nature, but also the extent of the danger Dean poses to Jack, and the practical need they have for Jack’s portal powers. They’re good for each other—better for each other than either of them realizes, I think—but the fundamental incompatibility of what they need from each other is heartbreaking.

2. Sam and Cas

Another relationship that is so simple and so complicated. The honest care and faith that they have in each other, the complexity of their orbit around Dean, the batshit insanity of their plans, their alien disregard for personal pain and danger when there’s a goal to meet: iconic. I really like the quiet internalism of their relationship, how it’s founded in a deep care and trust that, somewhat perversely, also enables their most reckless and self-destructive instincts. They like jumping off cliffs together/doing ill-advised soul experiments together.

1. Sam and Lucifer

If you think I wasn’t gonna rank this number one, you must be extremely new here. I live a Sam’n’Lucifer appreciation life. Everything about them drives me INSANE. Oh man, how do I sum it up: the horror! the trauma! to be alone for YEARS with someone who will not stop hurting you, the awful and inevitable intimacy of that! What Lucifer wants, what Sam wants, the dreadful asymmetry! The weird respect, the gaslighting, the abuse in every possible way, the years and years of fallout, the sheer enormity of their relationship offscreen that must be reconstructed forensically, by the huge and hideous shadow it casts. I am literally always thinking about them. I literally always crave the barest excuse to talk about them.