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"If you lock the door to the basement twice, are you sure the monster can't get you?" Lucifer smiled and then chuckled, turning around to take a step further into the cage. Then he turned back around, his hand hitting the cage's bars again.
The sound of vibrating metal could be heard, almost felt, and Lucifer's eyes were focused on Aleister, takin in every little movement. "I've never been scared. Seems stressful.. Kind of makes you look pale and sweaty, doesn't it? You need to chill, king. I'm locked up securely. My demons are behaving themselves, aren't they? Tell them daddy wants them to stop giving you such a hard time. Your rule's secure. Why worry?"
The sound of vibrating metal could be heard, almost felt, and Lucifer's eyes were focused on Aleister, takin in every little movement. "I've never been scared. Seems stressful.. Kind of makes you look pale and sweaty, doesn't it? You need to chill, king. I'm locked up securely. My demons are behaving themselves, aren't they? Tell them daddy wants them to stop giving you such a hard time. Your rule's secure. Why worry?"
"I'm not afraid of you." Just on edge. It was natural. Lucifer made him, made all of them, made this system and would always be looked upon better than himself. It all just rattled him, it didn't mean he was afraid or even scared. He was just ... uneasy. He cocked his head to the side, watching Lucifer and refusing to back down. He didn't break eye contact once. "They listen to me, you arrogant loser. You think anyone in hell cares what you think. You're old news."
As long as the propaganda machine kept going, it would be 'Lucifer, who?' in about 50 years. He was 7 years deep... so it was a long road but he could make it work. It was just good business. "I'm glad you'll rot in here. Feels good. To know that I have the former king in a nice, tidy little box."
As long as the propaganda machine kept going, it would be 'Lucifer, who?' in about 50 years. He was 7 years deep... so it was a long road but he could make it work. It was just good business. "I'm glad you'll rot in here. Feels good. To know that I have the former king in a nice, tidy little box."
"Oh yeah. I bet that feels just awesome. Wow." Lucifer spared a brief smirk and shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment. His expression was serene and then he opened his eyes again, looked at Aleister. "I can feel him, you know? I can hear him think. Sad little lost boy. He blames himself so much. Hates himself so much. Just keeps on losin' and losin'."
He raised his eyebrows. "Don't forget to check in with those boys, yeah? Wouldn't want things to be too easy on little ol' me."
He raised his eyebrows. "Don't forget to check in with those boys, yeah? Wouldn't want things to be too easy on little ol' me."
"It won't be easy. Trust me."
Aleister rolled his eyes and turned away, intent on going to yell at those stupid brothers and make sure nothing idiotic was in the works. He didn't bother looking back, he didn't give Lucifer any more satisfaction. He just left. The energy in that room - yikes. He hated it.
Aleister rolled his eyes and turned away, intent on going to yell at those stupid brothers and make sure nothing idiotic was in the works. He didn't bother looking back, he didn't give Lucifer any more satisfaction. He just left. The energy in that room - yikes. He hated it.
Something unusual had happened. Lucifer often didn't see anyone for a long time. Lately, however, things had been developing. He wasn't sure what caused it, though he assumed it was somehow related to the Tenaz brothers. Things always seemed to be.
There were demons near him every now and then, especially now that Aleister wanted to soundproof that place. One of them, an adorable little thing with the most besotted eyes, tripped near his catch one day. Dropped something. A vial rolled past the bars.
Lucifer inhaled it when he was alone. Grace, he had known that right away. But this, this was archangel's grace. His Raphael's grace. Somewhere out there his little brother was still alive and somehow in a position to have grace taken from him.
Maybe he had spent too much time in Sam Tenaz, making him more sentimental about brotherhood than he'd ever been before. Maybe he truly felt that strongly. That possessive, anyway. If Raphael was out there, being used, Lucifer was going to put an end to it. As simple as that.
With the strength so graciously provided by said archangel grace, he didn't doubt that he could. All he needed was an in. And he was certain Aleister was going to provide one.
So he started playing the song loudly. Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen. It seemed fitting. He had a feeling it would draw him in.
There were demons near him every now and then, especially now that Aleister wanted to soundproof that place. One of them, an adorable little thing with the most besotted eyes, tripped near his catch one day. Dropped something. A vial rolled past the bars.
Lucifer inhaled it when he was alone. Grace, he had known that right away. But this, this was archangel's grace. His Raphael's grace. Somewhere out there his little brother was still alive and somehow in a position to have grace taken from him.
Maybe he had spent too much time in Sam Tenaz, making him more sentimental about brotherhood than he'd ever been before. Maybe he truly felt that strongly. That possessive, anyway. If Raphael was out there, being used, Lucifer was going to put an end to it. As simple as that.
With the strength so graciously provided by said archangel grace, he didn't doubt that he could. All he needed was an in. And he was certain Aleister was going to provide one.
So he started playing the song loudly. Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen. It seemed fitting. He had a feeling it would draw him in.
"I'm starting to think that when you want my attention, you turn up the music. I just felt it was fair to tell you that until you're soundproofed, this is the last time I will come." He had to set rules and boundaries. Daddy had enough. Aleister spread his arms out playfully. "Cherish it, it's our final conversation."
And he was hoping that was a forever sort of deal. He wanted to have Lucifer buried, his mother enslaved onto a good path and Bobby to slowly get used to the situation while he looked for a solution. There had to be one, after all.
Things were slowly starting to come together, he was just on the edge of achieving so much. So why not do a victory lap and say goodbye. "What do you want?"
And he was hoping that was a forever sort of deal. He wanted to have Lucifer buried, his mother enslaved onto a good path and Bobby to slowly get used to the situation while he looked for a solution. There had to be one, after all.
Things were slowly starting to come together, he was just on the edge of achieving so much. So why not do a victory lap and say goodbye. "What do you want?"
"Oh, you're exactly right. All I want is your attention." Lucifer looked at Aleister, really looked at him. Beyond that vessel he was wearing, looked at what he was made of. At what he'd achieved in spite of it all. He had balls, he had vision. He could give him all that.
It wouldn't keep him from making him grovel at his feet, but still. He'd achieved miraculously much. It was impressive. "I want to offer you a deal. You are never going to rule Hell. Not the way I did. Not without being hated by everyone. Not with them all just plotting your demise. Together, though. You and me, we could achieve so much. Your cunning and my, how do you call it? Brutish strength? Brawn? Pure essence of power? What a combo. If you strike now and take that deal, I may even go ahead and supersize it for you."
It wouldn't keep him from making him grovel at his feet, but still. He'd achieved miraculously much. It was impressive. "I want to offer you a deal. You are never going to rule Hell. Not the way I did. Not without being hated by everyone. Not with them all just plotting your demise. Together, though. You and me, we could achieve so much. Your cunning and my, how do you call it? Brutish strength? Brawn? Pure essence of power? What a combo. If you strike now and take that deal, I may even go ahead and supersize it for you."
"Oh, golly. What a deal!" Aleister mocked with his most upbeat tone, unable to believe Lucifer was even trying this on him. Why did he think he was that stupid? Or did he know he'd reject it and he was just playing a game. "Here's the thing, the only one who could possibly benefit from this deal is you. You just want to have power, to get back on top and restart your stupid apocalypse. And once you've done that, you do away with the humans, the angels... the demons. Especially my kind."
Once human, now demon - they were just the lowest of the low to an archangel like Lucifer. "You think I'm dirt beneath your shoe. And I have a rule to never do business with people who can't wrap their head around mutual respect and keeping their word."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, father of lies, I'm not buying."
Once human, now demon - they were just the lowest of the low to an archangel like Lucifer. "You think I'm dirt beneath your shoe. And I have a rule to never do business with people who can't wrap their head around mutual respect and keeping their word."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, father of lies, I'm not buying."
"What, hasn't Sammy been catching you up? I've moved past the whole apocalypse idea. Big yawn, am I right? I've changed my mind on it. Now, really, I just want Heaven. You can keep Hell. You're right, you're better at all that boring shit." He waved his hand vaguely, rolling his eyes. "Counting souls and making contracts, whatever. I don't wanna lose my golden fiddle to Johnny any more, you know? I'll go back upstairs. You can run the show down here, but with my blessing."
Wasn't that a good offer? Lucifer smiled and shrugged. "One time offer, expires soon. What do you say?"
Wasn't that a good offer? Lucifer smiled and shrugged. "One time offer, expires soon. What do you say?"
"I say you think I'm a complete idiot."
And no, he was not going for it. He'd have to be a total idiot to believe Lucifer would ever be okay with him on the throne. Hell, with anyone but himself in total control. Heaven, Earth and hell. And not even control - chaos. "Did Sam buy it? He didn't, did he? Or he would have given you the vessel. What do it say about you that you can't convince any of us of your lies? Because I think it means you've lost your touch."
Aleister inhaled slowly and then smiled at Lucifer, amused by his pathetic attempts to play games. "You have nothing to offer me right now, you have nothing to bargain with and you're unreliable. No one wants to do a deal with a washed-out hasbeen."
And no, he was not going for it. He'd have to be a total idiot to believe Lucifer would ever be okay with him on the throne. Hell, with anyone but himself in total control. Heaven, Earth and hell. And not even control - chaos. "Did Sam buy it? He didn't, did he? Or he would have given you the vessel. What do it say about you that you can't convince any of us of your lies? Because I think it means you've lost your touch."
Aleister inhaled slowly and then smiled at Lucifer, amused by his pathetic attempts to play games. "You have nothing to offer me right now, you have nothing to bargain with and you're unreliable. No one wants to do a deal with a washed-out hasbeen."
"True, true." Lucifer sighed heavily, then reached up to cover his face with his hands. It was a good way of hiding the smile that he could not compress. He lowered his hands again and his head as well, clearly having lost all hope. "Seems like you're too cunning for me. I guess the only option I have left is begging for your mercy."
He got onto his knees in the cage, looking up at Aleister and trying to look as subservient as he possibly could. He had not been made for that. "Pretty please?"
He got onto his knees in the cage, looking up at Aleister and trying to look as subservient as he possibly could. He had not been made for that. "Pretty please?"
What the fuck was he playing at? He walked closer to the cage and then kicked the bar in front of Lucifer, listening to it ring. "What game are you playing?" This wasn't real. Right? No, it couldn't be. Not that he didn't like the sight, it was beautiful to behold but since when would Lucifer ever kneel to him?
"Surely you're not this pathetic, are you?" Hmm. Well. There's an opportunity to play. "Tell you what - I'll consider your offer, if you... bark like a dog for me."
"Surely you're not this pathetic, are you?" Hmm. Well. There's an opportunity to play. "Tell you what - I'll consider your offer, if you... bark like a dog for me."
Lucifer raised an eyebrow, then decided to go with it. Some sweet irony sprinkles on his revenge ice cream would only make it all the more delicious. "Woof."
Perhaps not the most enthusiastic bark ever, yet here he was. Lucifer Morningstar, the Adversary, on his knees and heeling for his Master. Kinda.
Perhaps not the most enthusiastic bark ever, yet here he was. Lucifer Morningstar, the Adversary, on his knees and heeling for his Master. Kinda.
"Oh come on, do it like you mean it or what's the point?" Aleister insisted cruelly as he couldn't deny his own enjoyment at the sight of Lucifer, the stupid angel everyone bitched about missing, on his knees and barking for him. All for a desperate attempt to keep some power. Some leverage. Pathetic.
"Give me some enthusiasm and I think we might be close to a deal." As if. "Show me you've changed. I want to see how humble you can be."
"Give me some enthusiasm and I think we might be close to a deal." As if. "Show me you've changed. I want to see how humble you can be."
Lucifer closed his eyes, mostly to figure out how he felt. Then he looked down, checking himself. No, not hard. "Damn. I guess humiliation really doesn't do it for me after all. Maybe if you dressed for the occasion?" He could dip his toes in it again some other time.
"Turns out, I can't be very humble. Deadly Sins, you understand." He got to his feet and raised his arms. "This is gonna hurt you so much more than me, little one."
Suddenly the silhouette of his wings showed, bright as anything. As the Morningstar. Hallelujah.
All sides of the cage burst at once and it fell down around him. Lucifer stood there, looking at Aleister with a smile. "Down, boy."
"Turns out, I can't be very humble. Deadly Sins, you understand." He got to his feet and raised his arms. "This is gonna hurt you so much more than me, little one."
Suddenly the silhouette of his wings showed, bright as anything. As the Morningstar. Hallelujah.
All sides of the cage burst at once and it fell down around him. Lucifer stood there, looking at Aleister with a smile. "Down, boy."
How the hell did that just happen?
Aleister froze for a second, still in shock at the sight of those gigantic wings. God, he fucking hated angels. They were slippery, strong and honestly - they were the worst.
There was no way to recover from this, no good route to go and no real options. So he did what was the smartest move - he hauled ass in the other direction.
Aleister froze for a second, still in shock at the sight of those gigantic wings. God, he fucking hated angels. They were slippery, strong and honestly - they were the worst.
There was no way to recover from this, no good route to go and no real options. So he did what was the smartest move - he hauled ass in the other direction.
Lucifer moved his hand and the force of his power threw Aleister against the wall. He watched him slide to the floor and then kept him there, while slowly approaching. There was something to be said for that fear he was failing to mask so miserably. "Wow. Stunning show of bravery there."
He crouched down by Aleister's side, reaching down to ruffle his hair. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you won't have to make any big and scary decisions again."
Lowering his voice, he continued. "You'll bark for me, puppy. Won't you?"
He crouched down by Aleister's side, reaching down to ruffle his hair. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you won't have to make any big and scary decisions again."
Lowering his voice, he continued. "You'll bark for me, puppy. Won't you?"
"Not a chance."
Someone would come soon. The other demons would notice and raise the alarm. They'd come for their king and -- if he'd planted his seeds properly, they might actually choose him over Lucifer. Odds were 20/80 but still. 20 was something. "How did you -- this makes no sense. You can't leave the cage! You don't have the vessel, you don't have ... how did you do this?!"
Someone would come soon. The other demons would notice and raise the alarm. They'd come for their king and -- if he'd planted his seeds properly, they might actually choose him over Lucifer. Odds were 20/80 but still. 20 was something. "How did you -- this makes no sense. You can't leave the cage! You don't have the vessel, you don't have ... how did you do this?!"
"I think the phrase to use here is: None of your beeswax." Lucifer grinned, grabbing Aleister by the throat and lifting him up. Oh, he was far from being at full strength. But he was more than strong enough for this moment. He'd thank Raphael for his indirect help later. "So much pride in you. I'm not saying I don't like it, but it's not the best look on you. Let's burn it out, shall we?"
With that, he sent it in. His fire, hellfire, burning within Aleister and making his eyes shine, bringing him to the edge of madness with pain. He kept it up for a good minute before he threw him down to the ground and proceeded to beat the hell out of him. His anger had a target at long last.
With that, he sent it in. His fire, hellfire, burning within Aleister and making his eyes shine, bringing him to the edge of madness with pain. He kept it up for a good minute before he threw him down to the ground and proceeded to beat the hell out of him. His anger had a target at long last.
It was indescribable pain. A burning agony through his entire insides. He honestly thought he'd have to leave his vessel but he couldn't get the energy together to smoke out. His best bet was to find the first chance and leave the vessel or he'd never get away from Lucifer.
He wasn't an idiot, he let Lucifer beat him around and he stayed down. He tried yelling out at first but that seemed to piss him off more. And when in danger - play dead. It seemed to cause people to lose some interest. When he paused, he could make another escape attempt. He just needed a moment to gather himself.
He wasn't an idiot, he let Lucifer beat him around and he stayed down. He tried yelling out at first but that seemed to piss him off more. And when in danger - play dead. It seemed to cause people to lose some interest. When he paused, he could make another escape attempt. He just needed a moment to gather himself.
"I like you better like this, you know? A little ragdoll-esque, shall we say?" Lucifer pulled him up by the back of the neck and dragged him along, marching toward the doors. Which he opened with a gust of his power.
Now there were demons and they were staring at them both with wide eyes, clearly at a loss.
"Oh, damn. So many of you little buggers, aren't there? I'm getting stage fright." He shook Aleister a little, making sure there was some life in him yet. "Why don't you tell them about the change in regime? They can spread the word. And someone can fetch me a nice collar for my new puppy."
Now there were demons and they were staring at them both with wide eyes, clearly at a loss.
"Oh, damn. So many of you little buggers, aren't there? I'm getting stage fright." He shook Aleister a little, making sure there was some life in him yet. "Why don't you tell them about the change in regime? They can spread the word. And someone can fetch me a nice collar for my new puppy."
"Don't just stand there. Do something." Aleister hissed at the demons, hoping they'd apply some common sense and come to his aide. They mostly stood there staring. One or two were smirking. Disloyal bastards. Aleister struggled against Lucifer but it was hard to get out from the grip of an Archangel, even at half capacity. "Well?!"
"Uhhh... I'll go get the collar, boss." One of the demons called out, shrugging at Crowley before taking off.
Well, fuck. "Traitors!"
"Uhhh... I'll go get the collar, boss." One of the demons called out, shrugging at Crowley before taking off.
Well, fuck. "Traitors!"
"Oh, I like you. Remind me to ask you for my list of names later, I miss some of my old homies." Lucifer turned to the side, so he could pin Aleister against the wall with one outstretched arm. He looked up at the once King of Hell, his face showing sign of the beating. Good.
"I'm going to break you. I'm going to break you until you know your place around me. It won't even take me all that long, will it?"
And then, for good measure, and because there were demons all around them that might still be making up their minds, he did it again. Sending the worst pain imaginable into the vessel Aleister was still bound to.
"I'm going to break you. I'm going to break you until you know your place around me. It won't even take me all that long, will it?"
And then, for good measure, and because there were demons all around them that might still be making up their minds, he did it again. Sending the worst pain imaginable into the vessel Aleister was still bound to.
"No, don't! Don't!" It was a nightmare. An actual nightmare. It still didn't make any sense but he had no time to think about it, he just braced himself and clenched up as that burning feeling ripped through him again. He had no idea if he screamed or not, he couldn't even think or control himself. It was agonising. It was like the vessel's organs liquidised. And then, somehow, regrew just to do it all over again.
When Lucifer stopped, his eyes rolled back into his head and he twitched violently, unable to regain proper control of his body. What the fuck was he going to do?
When Lucifer stopped, his eyes rolled back into his head and he twitched violently, unable to regain proper control of his body. What the fuck was he going to do?
While Aleister was out of it, a collar had been brought. It closed around his neck, spikes on the outside. A fitting look for his temperamental little puppy. Lucifer carried Aleister all the way to the throne room, where he tossed him onto the ground and gestured to the throne.
"Ugh. Clean that a bit, will you? Needs some shine." While some eager demons were working away on this, Lucifer rolled his shoulders and looked down at Aleister, finally kicking him lightly with the tip of his boot. "I'm not loving your outfit, puppy. We'll have to change that."
"Ugh. Clean that a bit, will you? Needs some shine." While some eager demons were working away on this, Lucifer rolled his shoulders and looked down at Aleister, finally kicking him lightly with the tip of his boot. "I'm not loving your outfit, puppy. We'll have to change that."
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