Let's Make a Deal

Remind Them Whose in Charge

   Sleep did not come to him. Lucifer spent the entire night at his workbench trying to wrap his head around what happened in Alastor's room. The duck, the display of the Hotel, his hands on his wings, the comment on his tail–and then the ever present memory of what it felt like to both pin and sit on the other. He just couldn't get the memory of all of that out of his head and every time he closed his eyes he felt the phantom sensation of Alastor's body against his own. What had he been thinking? Nothing, that was all it was. He hadn't thought anything through, his anger had caused him to snap and then everything just spiraled out of control from there. He told Alastor he liked him! It wasn't a lie but knowing Alastor he probably hadn't taken them that well. Except he had then taken his time in helping Lucifer with his wings instead of just throwing the King out.

    He really doesn't understand him. 

   Seeing as his head refused to turn off and sleep clearly wasn't happening, he decided to just give up entirely and create more ducks at his workbench. His natural comfort reaction when his head was attempting to drown him under his thoughts. Of course, all he ended up making was several different versions of the Alastor duck, in various clothes and of course with that fluffy tail he now knows exists. The night turned to day which dragged on, the morning red sun rising in Pentagram City as Lucifer hid away in his room. By the time he realized how late it had gotten, and knowing that he couldn't keep hiding with that meeting today, there were four of those cute little red ducks. Lucifer sighed and gathered them all up with his magic, buried them beneath the pile of ducks in the corner and moved to his closet.

   After heavy debate and knowing he needed to go out to an Overlords meeting, he decided to dress in his usual clothes. The red and white suit that was so familiar and the tophat that held his crown. It was best if he was going to go out representing himself he should dress in the way they're familiar with. Alastor had made it quite clear that whatever was happening at this meeting was going to be important and given the events that happened in Hell, the Overlords were going to be touchy and nervous. Not that they'll ever admit it.

   He freshened up in the bathroom, brushed his hair back and checked his appearance in the mirror nervously. Honestly, he wasn't sure what was making him more nervous. Alastor or this meeting he was going to attend. Shaking his head he felt his tail flick agitatedly behind him and sent the appendage a glare. Putting it away felt like letting Alastor win something, not that he even knows what that is, so he tried to simply ignore it.

   This was going to be fine.

   When he popped down into the lobby he heard the excited voice of Charlie in the living room. Tucking his hands behind his back he glanced in the direction of her voice, watching her twirl happily in front of the residents of the Hotel. The usual bunch and those that had managed to stay more than one day. Though they looked like they were regretting that choice now. There's a shift beside him and when he slides his gaze to his right he spotted Alastor stretching up from the shadows.

   "Dad! Alastor!" Looking back away he watched Charlie happily bounce her way over. "Do you guys want to come join the therapy session?"

   No. There was absolutely nothing that Lucifer wanted to do less than attend one of these rehabilitation exercises. But his daughter was looking at him with these wide, hopeful eyes and Lucifer could feel himself crumbling a bit under the weight of them. Fuck, fuck, fuck– "Honey, what exactly are you doing?" He asked with far too much hesitation that Charlie can clearly read how much he doesn't want to do this given the way her smile falls slightly.

   "Ah, haha, we're doing one of Vaggie's ideas! She calls them trust falls! You see, you go up on the stage, admit something vulnerable and then fall back and let everyone catch you!" She clasped her hands together happily. "Without letting your wings catch you of course!"