Let's Make a Deal

Not a Date

   To be honest, he was more than just nervous about returning to the Hotel after what happened with Charlie. He put it off as absolutely as long as he could, until he knew the conversation needed to be had. It was just a little after ten in the morning when he popped into the Hotel, figuring they needed to have it before everyone went out for lunch or wanted to eat, but should have been long after breakfast was finished. He had returned to his usual red and white outfit, hat firmly in place and cane nervously twisting in his fingers.

   The lobby was surprisingly empty though Husk was once more tucked behind the bar–absent of Angel for once. The spider demon was easily found lounging across the couch in the living room, TV playing silently in the background on the 666 news station. He twirled his cane in his hand and stepped into the room, looking down at the demon on the couch before flicking his gaze to the TV. He can see why he's watching it now, it was airing a discussion interview on Charlie's Hotel.

   Not a very pleasant one either, from what he can tell.

   "Hey short King, what's up?"

   Lucifer flicked his gaze over toward Angel and inclined his head slightly. "I need a moment of everyone's time, all at once, if they're home."

   Angel hummed and flipped himself up into a sitting position, crossing his top arms over his chest. "Think just Cherri's not 'ere." That was fine, she didn't seem particularly interested in the idea of rehabilitation, just hanging out with Angel. "Husk! Ya seen Niff? Think she'd be quicker at gatherin' everyone."

   The little bug sinner had actually been behind the bar, trying to drag a family of bugs out for execution where they were living in a hole in the wall. She very eagerly took up the request to gather the residents of the Hotel and vanished so quickly Lucifer would have thought she teleported and didn't just run at a frightening speed. It takes a little under ten minutes for everyone to gather together in the living room, Alastor being the last to appear and making a very good show of pretending he had no idea why everyone was asked to meet.

   He spared the Radio Demon only a brief glance before his attention was captured entirely by his daughter. Charlie shifted awkwardly in front of him, her eyes again full of tears and he gave her a chance to work out what she wanted to say. "Dad I–" she breaks off and a few tears slip down her face. "I still don't think you were fair, and I'm still mad you met with Heaven without me but..."

   "Charlie," he took a deep breath and reached his hand out, gently brushing his fingers through the top of her head. "You are allowed to be angry, and this is your place. You're allowed to tell me to leave. However, there are things you don't understand and you can't always be involved in every single aspect of what I do. Unfortunately, I am the King of Hell. I have obligations you can't always be involved in. Does that include Heaven? Sometimes. Mostly, it involves dealing with the Sins and a lot of paperwork." So much paperwork. "I didn't leave you out of the conversation with Michael to be cruel."

   "Michael?" Something flickered across her face, disgust or anger. So she does remember which angel struck Lucifer down. She turns her head away and sighs softly, finally nodding in acceptance to what he said. "I don't–want you gone. I want you to stay here, with all of us, and kicking you out yesterday was unfair."

   She still wanted him to say? He had thought she retracted that idea at some point, it was nice to know she didn't. Staying here, close to Charlie, where he can attempt to patch their relationship up was definitely something Lucifer wanted. A gentle smile pulled onto his face and Lucifer brushed his fingers through Charlie's hair again before finally retracting his hand. "I have good news, but you're going to want to sit for this. Then we can talk more, alright?"