[There was a strange moment, as Lucifer regarded Sam, where the angel ran through everything he knew about the human. Sam didn't like him, the elder or the younger, they fought him tooth and nail, capitulation wasn't in them. That was one of the things that made them most alike. So...why had there been so many concessions, one another the other?
Sam knew he was angry, understood why, and felt at fault for it. That explained some but not all of his manageability. Had strangling him really proven so effective? Was violence what Sam needed so that he could understand? It fit with the rest of what Lucifer knew, but seemed too...simple.
This was odd.
Lucifer frowned thoughtfully.
Apart from that oddity, Sam's point was banal. He'd repeated it over and over and Lucifer had answered it with various facets of the truth. He was getting limited in what faces were left, but that made little difference.]
From Nick? Oh, yes, apart from his capacity to contain an archangel, Nick is just a part of the rabble. He's normal, boring, uninspiring, utterly human.
I'm sure there are millions like him.
[Whether this meant Lucifer's hatred extended even to Nick, or that his general like of someone didn't exempt them from his wrath, was hard to say. Lucifer left it vague as he abruptly switched the topic.]
Do you enjoy advocating for them, Sam? Constantly defending them? Even knowing you're not included in the group? You've known hundreds, thousands of them, I doubt all of them were like Nick.
[ A deflation of his own ego certainly helps, but the truth of the matter is that Sam feels he's running out of options. He's feeling horribly defeated, and a part of him believes having Lucifer just choke him to death would be simpler than having this conversation. Of course, Sam is the one who didn't just let it end on an open-ended "we'll see what happens" that Lucifer seemed to be able to do. It would have been an easy out. Why didn't he take it?
He tried to hide it last time, he tried to play a game and twist it to his own advantage. It had lost him Dean more than once, Cas nearly, and put him in his own uncomfortable position of getting to know the devil. He thought he'd been doing the right thing, but now he's worried that each person he's named might be at risk. Lucifer has no reason to hold back now, after all. And he gets that; he's angry, he did exactly what Sam asked and he got punished for it. He does get it.
He gets the bones, the logic. He understands.
Attempts to be congenial are, for most intents and purposes, Sam's own desire to try take air from the flames. If Lucifer leaves a little less angry perhaps this place won't suddenly turn into another recreation of the hotel during that blizzard. Sam knows what angels are capable of now, and this time he doesn't feel like he has any sway over the circumstances.
He never realized how stupidly comfortable he'd become with his decisions. Comfortable with making a deal with Lucifer. No wonder Dean was mad. ]
But I am. I've met people, good people, and they deserve to live. [ He exhales sharply, his frown deepening. ] I know I messed up. Just...that's between you and me. No one else.
[Sam was negotiating. That was why he was being so willing. At once, Lucifer was torn. He was angry with Sam, that he was attempting the same thing, to ply Lucifer's favor to his will, but could he really hold that against him. After all, that was what he would do.
The archangel stared Sam down and let out a quiet hum. After a long, tense silence, Lucifer shifted and drew Nick up to his full posture.]
I suppose it can be. [Sam had asked for something, insofar as he ever did. If he was going to take it out on Sam, his anger, his frustration, well...perhaps he would have to take it out on Sam.]
[ It's a relief as much as one can be. As long as he can keep the brunt of Lucifer's frustration pointed in his direction, well, that's all he can ask for, isn't it? He's died twice now, both times because of his association with Lucifer. What's one or ten more?
It's easy to think that way when you're not faced with it. Sam thought he'd been prepared to die but still fought it. Regardless, it's the preferable outcome. Though he will never be not on guard around Lucifer, a smidgen of the tension in his shoulders dissipates. ]
Thank you.
[ For now. He'll take it. However long "now" lasts. ]
[Lucifer didn't respond to Sam's thanks, they were a given. It was a mild promise and one that didn't involve any concrete terms. At the moment, it was the best Lucifer was willing to do. His anger with Sam was still festering, but it had cooled over the course of the conversation.
No, instead of answering, Lucifer simply turned and left. He vanished and the thunderous beating of wings followed after him.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Sam knew he was angry, understood why, and felt at fault for it. That explained some but not all of his manageability. Had strangling him really proven so effective? Was violence what Sam needed so that he could understand? It fit with the rest of what Lucifer knew, but seemed too...simple.
This was odd.
Lucifer frowned thoughtfully.
Apart from that oddity, Sam's point was banal. He'd repeated it over and over and Lucifer had answered it with various facets of the truth. He was getting limited in what faces were left, but that made little difference.]
From Nick? Oh, yes, apart from his capacity to contain an archangel, Nick is just a part of the rabble. He's normal, boring, uninspiring, utterly human.
I'm sure there are millions like him.
[Whether this meant Lucifer's hatred extended even to Nick, or that his general like of someone didn't exempt them from his wrath, was hard to say. Lucifer left it vague as he abruptly switched the topic.]
Do you enjoy advocating for them, Sam? Constantly defending them? Even knowing you're not included in the group? You've known hundreds, thousands of them, I doubt all of them were like Nick.
no subject
He tried to hide it last time, he tried to play a game and twist it to his own advantage. It had lost him Dean more than once, Cas nearly, and put him in his own uncomfortable position of getting to know the devil. He thought he'd been doing the right thing, but now he's worried that each person he's named might be at risk. Lucifer has no reason to hold back now, after all. And he gets that; he's angry, he did exactly what Sam asked and he got punished for it. He does get it.
He gets the bones, the logic. He understands.
Attempts to be congenial are, for most intents and purposes, Sam's own desire to try take air from the flames. If Lucifer leaves a little less angry perhaps this place won't suddenly turn into another recreation of the hotel during that blizzard. Sam knows what angels are capable of now, and this time he doesn't feel like he has any sway over the circumstances.
He never realized how stupidly comfortable he'd become with his decisions. Comfortable with making a deal with Lucifer. No wonder Dean was mad. ]
But I am. I've met people, good people, and they deserve to live. [ He exhales sharply, his frown deepening. ] I know I messed up. Just...that's between you and me. No one else.
[ Please don't take it out on anyone else. ]
no subject
The archangel stared Sam down and let out a quiet hum. After a long, tense silence, Lucifer shifted and drew Nick up to his full posture.]
I suppose it can be. [Sam had asked for something, insofar as he ever did. If he was going to take it out on Sam, his anger, his frustration, well...perhaps he would have to take it out on Sam.]
For now.
no subject
It's easy to think that way when you're not faced with it. Sam thought he'd been prepared to die but still fought it. Regardless, it's the preferable outcome. Though he will never be not on guard around Lucifer, a smidgen of the tension in his shoulders dissipates. ]
Thank you.
[ For now. He'll take it. However long "now" lasts. ]
no subject
No, instead of answering, Lucifer simply turned and left. He vanished and the thunderous beating of wings followed after him.]