Chapter Text
Since the beginning of time, before Eden and before the stars were crafted Lucifer's been around and kicking! Through falling in love to falling to hell he'd kept going onward; and now he'd the proof that it was all worth it.
Charlie wants to see him!
First, she calls him and then !—Even though the way he'd handled that call was
"Hey Bitch!"? What the fuck was he thinking?! Why would he call Charlie a bitch? Charlie wasn't a bitch she's his kindhearted, sweet little girl!—
But! Charlie invited him over anyways!
To see that little project with the... ugh, sinners.
A chill went down his spine at the thought of his daughter spending so much time unattended, unguarded! With a population so horrible they'd needed to be cut off from all of hell!
But it's something she'd built herself; something she's proud to show off to him! So he'd be a good, supportive father— The best father ever!
Things were looking up for Lucifer. For the first time in a hundred- no, thousands of years! The future seemed bright
By the time the hotel comes into view, he's practically panting. It's not that the journey was particularly far or even all that perilous!
Lucifer's just out of shape. He's all nerves, and— is he sweating? He can't meet up with Charlie when he's sweating this much—!
The door creaks open it's hinge squeaking as if surprised to see him. Of all the greetings he'd practiced on the way here Lucifer uses none of them! Only calling out an excited "Chaarrlie!" pulling his little girl into the biggest of bear hugs
"Oh, it's so good to see you. Haha!" Lucifer can feel his chest swell with pride— Charlie looked more and more like him every day. She'd gotten her mother's height, they shared a love of song and Lilith had gifted their little girl with her protective passion!
"It's uh, good to see you, too, dad." Charlie's smile grows strained, and it's then that Lucifer realizes that he's crushing
"So!" Charlie clasps her hands together clearing her throat. She's practically bouncing from hoof to hoof as she leads him inside. "Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!"
Hazbin? Hahaha! That's so clever!
"Oh hewwo KeeKee!" Lucifer coos, when the one-eyed cat slinks over, tail flicking as she nuzzles up against his pant leg.
Two pairs of coal dark horns emerge from behind a table "Razzle, Dazzle." Lucifer calls, his eye twitching. They're supposed to stay beside near Charlie and yet their attention seemed to be drifting elsewhere. "You're supposed to be taking care of my wittle girl," Baring his teeth, the two artificial demons blink at the threat, their gazes flicking between Charlie, and the corners of the building where the shadows lingered too long.
"So what do you think?"
"Huh? What? Oh! Yeah wow, this place is..." Lucifer glances across the lobby, across the crooked paintings and— oh fuck! Was that a rat!? "Uh huh, yeah, it's... got character?" Lucifer winces as he sees one of the teeniest sinner he's ever seen charge after the rodent with a knife bigger than her whole head.
There's a certain madness in her eyes... Then again, there's also a madness in her smile, and the blood splattered clothes, and the rabid way she's stabbing away at rat that died thirty stab-wounds ago... Her mouth is foaming.
Lucifer didn't even want to know what landed this little lady in hell.
Was she a lady? He's gonna assume she's an adult... Lucifer didn't want to dwell on the concept of children burning in hell.
"It's got a lot of character," He doubles down. It's not an insult, but it's probably not the compliment Charlie's looking for...
It's charming! In a way...
The cookies, though hastily baked were thoughtful. Or at least he thought they were— until he'd taken a good look at them. Bright, blood red frosting splattered across cookies cut into the shapes of mutilated bodies.
Why did sinners have to turn everything into a display of gory violence?
It's distasteful!
But the cookie's themselves were really really good.
Actually. They're probably the best things he's eaten in a good long while!
"Oh!" Charlie beams, picking up the corpse of a sugar cookie, "Alastor made these ones; she's actually giving me cooking lessons," Lucifer bites back a scowl. It didn't matter how good these cookies were, Charlie didn't need a sinner to teach her anything!
"I was a bit wary about letting her cook when she first joined the hotel, because of the whole - uh, cannibalism thing," Lucifer Chokes at that, staring down at the cookie in horror.
"But don't worry! Alastor promised that she wouldn't put human flesh in any of the communal meals!" The words are meant to soothe him, but all Lucifer could think of was the fact that a Cannibal was near his daughter.
A Cannibal was cooking meals for his daughter! How long would it be before this All-Star person decided to cook Charlie?!
"And who-" He coughs, spiting a piece of cookie into a napkin. Honestly, eating human flesh wouldn't be the worst thing for him to have done in hell. Sinner's regenerate, so it's not like whoever might've been baked into these cookies was dead for good. It'd be worse of him to eat a Hellborn.
Still! It's a horrible disgusting for a person to do on earth. There's a reason so many diseases were passed between cannibals and it's the same reason you're damned to hell when you do it!
Lucifer could understand the whole "Oh, I was starving to death, I ate what's available," situation. Human brains are wild, and they did wild things just to stay alive! But to enjoy the act of killing, butchering, seasoning, and cooking another person?? It's just a horrific use of free will that never failed to sicken him.
Why someone would want to continue or try eating their fellow man after they reached the afterlife was beyond him.
It's creative! In the worst way possible...They twisted their free will—something Lucifer knew could be beautiful— into something sadistic and grotesque!
A pair of hazel eyes flash to mind. A kind smile, a cabin out in the swamp a short ways away from a quaint little town, and some of the best food he'd ever eaten.
She's in heaven now... Probably has been for quite a while.
He's glad her meetings with him and Lilith hadn't earned her damnation.
A woman like her deserved paradise...
"Who Alacore?"
"Dad..." Charlie's face twists and let's out a heavy breath. The type of breath that had her shoulders dropping; the kind that let Lucifer know she's disappointed in him.
What had he done this time? Had Charlie helped with these cookies? But they were good— potentially made with sinner meat, but still good? Should he eat more? Be more supportive of her culinary endeavors
Maybe if he did she'd give up getting in contact with heaven.
Lucifer reaches for another cookie, only for the sharp stab of a needle to bat his clawed hand away "No more cookies for you! >:c" She snarls, giggling as she licked the edge of the blade, her own blood pouring down it. "Heheheheheh hehe he pain!"
...Was this tiny thing Castor? The cannibal? She certainly seemed deranged enough to bake a person into a batch of delicious cookies...
"Niffty!" Charlie scolds, picking the little demon up by the armpits, awkwardly carrying the thrashing sinner.
To the sinner's credit, Charlie only manages to make it a solid three steps before the one-eyed woman slips from her grasp like an eel.
So this one wasn't the cannibal—Or maybe there was just multiple?
"I wanted that one," The girl— he thinks her name was 'neatly?' Or was it 'Nicky?' ... 'Niffty!' Pouts, snatching the place of crime scene themed cookies out of his reach being shockingly careful not to drop a single one.
"The ultimate bad boy doesn't appreciate Mrs. Alastor's cooking,"
"Oh," He'd gotten a name wrong again...
"It's a shame..." A female voice hums flatly, the 'click-clop-clip,' of hooves hitting the ground followed behind it. "I worked hard on those," Their voice is smooth, crisp, and melodic.
Practiced; a veil of static burying a subtle hint of an accent Lucifer swears he's heard somewhere else before.
This was the cannibal?
Lucifer doesn't give her the pleasure of meeting eye to eye. Mainly, because he's too busy checking the rest of the food on the table for eyes and teeth.
She's quite tall; that's for sure. But most sinners he'd seen were either inhumanly tall or devastatingly short.
This lanky woman obviously fell somewhere in the former group. Not the tallest sinner in hell, but tall enough to tower over a good chunk of the city's population.
But Lucifer doesn't give her the satisfaction of meeting eye to eye. Mainly because he's still preoccupied checking the rest of the food on the table for teeth and eyeballs.
"Well. Maybe if you didn't stuff your baked goods with human meat they'd be a bigger hit at parties." Lucifer snaps, his teeth flash sharper than he'd intended.
But he wouldn't feel bad about scolding a cannibal. Especially not for one who dressed neck to toe in an obnoxious blood red.
Too bad this 'Alacord,' person got a kick out of his response.
"Oh please!" She howls with laughter "As if I'd ever waste precious ingredients on the likes of..." They pause, and he doesn't even need to look up from the dish he's poking at to know she's about to make a jab at him.
The audacity would be almost respectable, if it weren't so idiotic.
But the 'someone like you,' goes implied and unsaid. "Someone who wouldn't appreciate it," She finishes, her sentence placing a steaming hot pot of mystery stew down a mere inch from Lucifer's hands.
Charlie beams — as if it's this impressive feat that the sinner hadn't ran around feeding hotel guests other sinners behind her back.
"And we appreciate you- um... Accommodating, everyone's dietary restrictions when you cook for us,"
"Of course! Although, with how quickly you're progressing with my tutorage it won't be long until you're catering feasts for all our friends!"
"Awwwww," Charlie practically melts from the praise but only Lucifer seems to notice how she emphasizes her words. "You really think so?" His daughter coos, cradling a hand to her chest.
"I know so my dear!" The sinner squawks with an obnoxiously smug cheerfulness as she rested her red-tipped claws on Charlie's hands "I've known your potential since day one after all!
Now That hurt.
It hurt more than any insult the sinner could've thrown at him.
But what hurt more was the way his daughter lunged into the arms of the sinner "Th-th thank you ala-ala Alastor! You have no idea how much that means to me to hear that from you," She wept into the sinner's shoulder.
"Now, Now," She tsked, patting the top of Charlie's head, a staff popping into her hand— Copy cat— "Some introduction's are still in order aren't they?"
"Right! Sorry..." Charlie wipes her face, clearing her throat and holding her hand out to the cannibal, "As you may have heard earlier; this is Alastor. Our host and facility manager of the hotel," Charlie gives the sinners arm a friendly squeeze, her eyes practically sparkling.
Lucifer isn't ready for what he sees when he finally meets the sinners gaze.
Nothing could've ever prepared him for what he sees— Because it's her.
Nicaise
It's her but at the same time it wasn't. This woman's hellish form was younger than Nicaise had been the last time he'd seen her.
Twenty-nine, going on thirty. That's how old she'd been the last time he'd seen her. Not particularly old by human standards; but old enough that her features had matured past that awkward stage where they still looked like a teenager to anyone older than forty.
It's painfully obvious that this woman died before they even got close to thirty. In fact, if you told him that this sinner had been a teenager, he would've believed you!
There's this strange youthfulness to their appearance, to their magic.
Baby face is what most people would call it.
This sinner and Nicaise were alike in many ways— and at the same time they couldn't be further apart.
Nicaise had lovely dark brown, curly hair, and warm welcoming eyes that reminded you of a cup of coffee sweetened to perfection.
This woman had long eye-catching red hair that cascaded past her shoulders. Locks curling up at the sides, against her cheeks; framing a wide jagged toothed grin that stretched ear to ear.
The grin looked painful and it almost diverted his attention from the two dimples he'd once seen on Nicaise.
This was Nicaise's child.
Hell had twisted her features— The two fluffy red deer ears atop their head made that clear. Even so, Lucifer could see the echos of Nicaise clear as day from head to toe. From her cheek bones, to her nose.
Her eyes and her jaw were far more similar to Lucifer's or Charlie's than her mothers but one could chalk that down to her sinner form...Just like the hooves or the sharpened teeth.
Plenty of demons had those.
"Al's been a huge help around the hotel—"
"Charmed to be meeting you!" Nicaise's child chirped holding a clawed hand out to him with a smirk. "It's nice to finally put a face to the name!"
Lucifer takes it; because it's Nicaise's child and he owed her at least that much respect.
But the second their hands touch, It's as if a black hole had formed inside his chest, stripping his lungs of air and his veins of golden blood.
Oh.
Oh shit.
—This was his child.
This was his child...
Lucifer had another child— Another daughter!
He and Nicaise had a daughter!
They had a daughter together and Lucifer was just now finding out about it!
He didn't know—by all means it should've been impossible!
The chances of a human and an angel having a child were one in a billion, but a fallen angel like Lucifer?
There's a reason that in all the years he'd lived he'd only had one child!
Charlie was a miracle that almost hadn't existed at all!
Lucifer almost couldn't believe it.
But the evidence was irrefutable!
That magic bubbling at the tips of her clawed fingers, flowing through her veins was unmistakably born from his own. Different, yet oddly similar. Powerful in a way no sinner could ever dream to rival.
But there's also something oddly tame about it. Something strained, like the flow of magic itself was being cinched and siphoned off elsewhere...
"You certainly are much shorter in real life," Nicaise's His child jeers, wiping her palm off on her coat with a barely disguised grimace when he let go of her hand.
Did she know?
All it'd taken for Lucifer to figure it out was a handshake! Surely, she'd felt the similarity between their magic— between her and Charlie's magic too!
But she didn't seem surprised, just...Disgusted.
Like she'd already known who's blood ran through her veins.
Is that why she's at the hotel? Was she making an attempt to connect with their family? More so towards Charlie than Lucifer himself.
Charlie.
Did Charlie know too?!
She must've! Why else would she— "What in the unholy Hell is that?!" Lucifer finds himself shouting against better judgment. It's rude, and it interrupts his train of thought but he just can't help it.
He'd made the mistake of glancing past his daughter's taller form; and what he saw was horrifying.
There's a section of the hotel; a bar. Different from the rest of the hotel and not in the sense of decoration— though it definitely was furnished starkly macabre compared to the rest of the lobby.
It's as if the limb of a casino had been torn away from reality, forcefully grafted onto another building that's already rejecting the addition.
The walls didn't match. Not in color, or in material. Around the bar, the walls were a deep emerald green, a toxic glow thinly outlining where the hotel's darker red interior encroached on the jagged, weathered wood.
"Oh, that's just one of the renovations I had done," His youngest daughter crows.
Fuck.
Foot meet mouth—Again. Way to go Lucifer! You just insulted your daughter's creative efforts and style less than ten minutes into meeting her.
Way to make an impression!
Now, to her he's a deadbeat and an asshole!
Hadn't he learned anything from Charlie's emo phase?
"Adds a bit of color, don't you think?" His youngest, in the spirit of her sister's hotel throws Lucifer a lifesaver to redeem himself.
"Yep! Yeah, It sure does... I like the-" Lucifer scans the bar for something to compliment and — Oh fuck, are those human spines? "Vibe you've brought to the place; the green breaks things up a bit..."
Using dead people as decor wasn't as big of a deal in hell as it was on earth, right? If anything, it's resourceful! What use did a sinner have for a spine that's already been ripped from their body?
It'd grow back anyways!
Yeah, nope! It's still pretty fucked up; but he's not going to needle her about it.
"It's creative! I like the uh, spines?" Lucifer chuckles awkwardly.
"Oh?" His daughter grins, and he can't help but see a bit of himself in that smile.
It's an amused smile; mischievous and Lucifer's soon to find out why. "If you like this; just wait until you see Cannibal town!"
Cannibal town?!
There's a cannibal town now?
How could a town be remotely functional when each and every one of it's residents was busy slurping down intestines like spaghetti?
At his grimace, his daughter just laughs.
She's joking-! Of course she was!
Even in hell, a town populated entirely by cannibals was a ridiculous concept.
"It's far more pleasant than the name suggests, your majesty." Ah, so the town did exist. "I'm sure they'd be just thrilled to welcome a royal guest such as yourself,"
Ha! As a meal maybe, not a ruler.
...
It's not like he's done much 'ruling,' anyways.
"I'm sure they would Alex, but I'm kind of attached to my limbs, and showing up without a proper gift just seems impolite," With that sentence, his youngest freezes, her eyes narrowing into a rather startling glare.
Was there some unwritten cannibal etiquette that he just trampled on?
"Dad," Charlie sighed— she's frowning! What did he do? How had he messed this up? "Alastor, I'm so sorry. Dad's always been bad with names.
Oh.
He'd gotten the name wrong.
Lucifer got his daughter's name wrong! What the fuck is wrong with him? Charlie introduced her less than ten minutes ago! And her name had been said multiple times since he got here!
It's a traditionally masculine name; just like Charlie's nickname was when she'd been born.
So it's not like it was particularly forgettable!
"It's quite alright Charlotte," His youngest daughter— Alastor soothes, "His Majesty's old age must've pulled one over on him."
"Don't hold it against him. It's not like it's the first time he's forgotten someone!"
Ouch.
"..." He can't even dispute the insult because even if he hadn't meant to; Lucifer hadn't thought to check on Nicaise once until it'd been too long for her to possibly still be alive.
Maybe if he had popped in, he would've learned of their child's existence sooner?
Instead, his daughter had become a Cannibal.
His youngest daughter had ended up in hell, and it very well could've been Lucifer who'd carved the path that led her here.
"Why the glum look, your majesty?" She cocked her head to the side, the muscles in her neck making a gruesome 'pop!' "Your daughter's found plenty of...Interesting character's to support her in her ambitions!"
"If I were her father, I'd be so proud of her,"
At least the two of them were getting along; a small positive to the situation that kept him from spiraling into a pit of guilty despair.
Lucifer doesn't know what he'd do if they hated each other. What could he have done if they did? Separating them wasn't an option; one of his daughters couldn't leave the Pride ring, and the other would never want to!
If a fight had broken out between them, it would've been a grisly sight. Charlie doesn't get into actual fights often; she'd the patience that'd rival even the most dedicated of monks.
But when she did fight?
...
She could be so vicious when she needed to be.
Lucifer didn't know his youngest daughter's temperament; Nicaise was saintly when it came to her patience, but what if Alastor inherited his temper?
There's one thing he knows about how sinner's fight—aside from how disgustingly brutal it could be— and it's that they didn't know when to quit!
They'd tear themselves into itty-bitty pieces if it meant they could get just one more scratch on their opponent!
And his youngest daughter was a cannibal; meaning, she'd be willing to go farther to avoid a loss!
But for once in his entire existence, he was thrown a bone.
They didn't hate each other. Not outwardly, at least.
Rightfully, his youngest was hostile towards him, but he's fortune enough that she's not holding Lucifer's sins against Charlie.
More than anything she seemed protective; like Lucifer was a threat to them.
Which he couldn't exactly blame his daughter for thinking that way. Alastor died young and Lucifer wouldn't delude himself into believing her life wasn't incredibly difficult.
As kindhearted Nicaise was, he'd still left her a single mother. And human's could be weird about that... they were weird about a lot of things in that time.
A lot of sinners still are weird about things like that!
Charlie flicked nervously between he and her sister; staring at them like a pet owner introducing a new kitten to the old family dog would.
And it's not an inaccurate comparison.
With every hissed insult from Alastor Charlie's eyes widened, looking to him like he was about to bite her sister's head off.
It might've been funny if it didn't sting a little bit.
Lucifer wasn't going to hurt his own child— He's the king of hell, not a monster.
"Okay! Okay, how about I show you around the hotel dad?" Charlie chirps, eagerly dragging Lucifer into the parlor. "We've made a lot of other friends here and— Oh!" She grins "I almost forgot." Charlie's hands shot out, fingers framing the room like a beloved family photo.
"This is the parlor~ It's where everyone hangs out, shares secrets and talks about their feelings!"
"And this—" Charlie clears her throat, straightening up and placing her hands on the shoulders of a much shorter girl, guiding her front and center. "Is my girlfriend Vaggie,"
Ah! This was a big thing wasn't it? Today's been chalked full of surprises!
At least this one was a pleasant, guilt free surprise!
"You like girls?" He grins— Be supportive Lucifer; your eldest is showing you her partner. "So do I! We've got so much in common; put er' there Maggie," He pulls the X-Eyed girl into a side hug, dropping her like a sack of hammers when she went rigid in his hold.
That's too much Lucifer; don't be weird!
"Uh, it's lovely to meet you sir," She stands stiffly like a wax statue.
Charlie soon turns her attention to a group of sinners twiddling their thumbs beside a table filled with even more cookies. Though, these ones were less professionally decorated, and more so splattered with a liquidy red-pink frosting that ran off the sides.
A sinner with the scaly form of a snake was guarding a tray of these cookies, from the quick hands of a smirking spider-like sinner. The tray's clutched to his chest, his body hovering over it like those cookies were his children.
"This is Sir Pentious," At the sound of his name, the sinner jolts, stiffening straight as a ruler and giving Lucifer a salute like he's his drill sergeant. "Your majesty!" He greets, eyes doing their best to land anywhere but Lucifers person.
"And this is Angel dust,"
Said sinner winks, flicking a tongue across his lips with a coo of "Heya, short king~" WOW These sinners were bold!
Don't they know he's married?
...Or at least he thinks he's still married? They've been separated for quite a while now— Nevermind the fact he hasn't seen her for 7 years.
"They're our first ever hotel guests, and we're so happy they're here!"
...Who was everyone else then?
"This is Husk," She gestured to a primly dressed cat-bird thing? "He's our bartender,"
A chimera of one of those tuxedo cats on earth and a hellish crow; there's bags under his eyes. It's almost impressive, how he managed to look so exhausted without toppling over on his ass.
"Nice to meet you," The bartender gruffs.
"And you've already met Niffty, but just in case! Niffty's our housekeeper," Charlie waves to the little cyclops woman from earlier.
A knife was still clutched in her bone breaking grip. The handle practically crying out in despair as her nails pierced the pulp of a sturdy wooden hilt. "I'm also pest control," She giggles, her jagged teeth peeking out through the gaps of a wide, thin-lipped smile like a feral dog eager to feast.
Was she the only one responsible for house keeping?
The hotel was huge for one person to be cleaning all by themselves; and Lucifer didn't exactly feel bad for her. She seemed to take the tasks she been given with a...disturbing level of enthusiasm.
But Lucifer did feel bad about the work load his daughters were taking on in his absence...
A chandelier hangs half-hazardly over the lobby. Something he wouldn't have paid much attention to had it not crashed to the ground with a loud 'BANG!'
Shattered glass shot across the floor; sinner's diving to cover the food—like it was more important than their lives; and considering they could respawn? It probably was; good food is hard to come by.
"Yikes," He hissed through grit teeth, "Hahaha, Looks like you two could use some help,"
Twirling his staff in his hands, Lucifer took a step towards the mangled wreckage, "And who better to lend it than the king of hell himself?!" A snap of his fingers was all it took for that chandelier to right itself.
Gold trails of magic strung the light fixture along, the dented metal twisting and turning into something new—Something grand!
If Lucifer so wanted to, he could change the entire hotel into something more fitting of royalty, but this was his daughter's first project— and a project she's working on with her sister at that!
For now, he'd settle for reinforcing the bits that were about to fall to pieces.
Looking back to his daughters, Lucifer visibly wilted. Charlie, was elated! But Alastor had her ears pinned back against her skull, eyes narrowed with displeasure. "Well, it appears I've fallen behind in my duties. Thank you for stepping in your majesty,"
Shit.
Lucifer chuckles scratching the skin of his hands with a fury, "Don't even worry about it! This building's old. Probably older than you!" It was built two—maybe three hundred years ago? Charlie was a toddler when they'd first used the place as a vacation home.
"I'd been meaning to get the place fixed up, but then Charlie said she'd take it over!"
Alastor's grin sharpened, gripping her microphone tightly. "And we've been doing such a good job haven't we?" She huffs, as if trying to emphasize that she also contributed to this project.
"I'd say this place is doing pretty well considering how short staffed you are," This hotel was huge! The paperwork & maintenance needed to keep this place a float would be enough to drown the two girls!
"You know my offer from before still stands..."
"Dad... You know that's not the point of this!" Charlie sighs, and Lucifer can't help but wince at the way Alastor's posture seemed to stiffen.
"Okay, okay. But are you sure you don't want even one of my people to help around in the kitchen? It'd only take a call and they'd be here..."
Before Charlie could respond, Alastor snapped out a harsh. "I will Not be allowing outsiders into my kitchen,"
"Alright," Lucifer reluctantly concedes; if they believed they could handle things on their own, then they could.
As if to break the tension, the hotel doors swing open. Rusty hinges shriek out in terror! The wooden door crashed into a wall that seemed seconds away from crumbling to dust. "It's Meeee!~" Another sinner prances into the lobby dragging her notes out with every step.
She's on the shorter side all things considered— Not quite as short as the maid, but Lucifer a few heads taller. "I know you all were waiting for me~!" The blond sinner sings like they're supposed to know who she is.
Was this another one of Charlie's friends?
Lucifer turns to his eldest.
Charlie looks... Just as confused as he is.
He turns to his youngest...
There's a flash of recognition and if Lucifer thought Alastor was smiling before, she was absolutely beaming now!
"Mimzy!" His daughter greeted joyfully, her face lighting up like the starry night sky. The corners of her bright red eyes crinkled as she took an arms wide open step towards the intruder.
Was she giving this sinner a hug?!
Lucifer wanted a hug from his youngest daughter; it'd be his first one!
"Who?" Lucifer blinks, glancing across the hotel residents; confusion paints their faces the same as his, aside from Dusk-? Musk? The name truly slipped his mind, but the Chimera's face immediately dropped into a cold snarl. "What does she want now?!" Lucifer could see their hair standing on edge; all that fur giving them an extra half-inch of height.
He bristles as the sinner embraces his daughter. "Well, didn't'cha hear the girl?" The shorter sinner woman laughs, patting Alastor's leg, "It's Mimzy! I know I'm adorable but quit your gawking fellas!" She cackles.
"Listen..." She looks up at Alastor "I was in the neighborhood, and I heard you were staying at this ritzy slob factory, so I figured I'd stop by for old times sake!" Her voice is almost condescendingly sweet, syrupy in the worst way possible.
Lucifer didn't even know this woman, but he could tell she wanted something—(The cat-bird's comment hadn't influenced his opinion at all, nope!,)
"Of course! Everyone's welcome here!" Alastor chirps.
"That's so sweet!" Charlie looked intrigued by the sinner "Do you two know each other?"
"Oh, yeah we go way back, ran in the same circles when we were alive." They did? "Allie here used to frequent the club I used to perform. She's the only one I know who could pound whisky like a sailor and keep up with me on the dance floor,"
The story gave him pause, and Lucifer suddenly found himself wanting this sinner to stay. Not because he particularly liked her company—No, like most sinners, Lucifer actually found her rather unpleasant.
But this sinner knew his daughter! There's so many questions he had to ask!
What was she like? How had she looked before she got to hell— if Lucifer could recognize Nicaise's features now just imagine how much like her mother she looked like when she was alive!
How long had they known each other? Did she know what Alastor looked like as a child?
What was she like as a child? And what did she do with her life? Was her life hard?
She ended up in hell for a reason—Not that he wasn't happy to have her in his realm! But he knew one of her sins was cannibalism.
Surges of people ended up in hell for cannibalism whenever famines or war struck—Not that it stopped completely in times of peace. There's always going to be people on earth who'll be killing for joy and whimsy.
His daughter cannibalizing other's out of necessity was the best case scenario given the crime. It might seem twisted, but he'd rather have her have become a serial killer than to have starved or suffered.
He might be biased...
"Haha! Oh, Mimzy's quite the talent you should've seen her in her hayday,"
"Watch it, Dollface! I'm still in my prime," The sinner preens, adjusting the bust of a pink flapper dress.
"I'm sure that-" He starts, intending to lead into a topic that'd tell him more about Alastor. He needed something to work with—To know even a little about the entire life he'd missed!
"Oh, oh my stars!" Her eyes sparkled with a emotion that'd give the demons in Greed a run for their money. "Are you Lucifer?" She asks, practically tackling that snake sinner out of her way
Which wasn't at all necessary, considering he'd trailed in closer to follow his daughters after she'd arrived.
"Alastor," She hisses sharply, "You gotta warn a girl when she's in mixed company,"
"Your Highness," They curtsy, voice taking on a seductive edge to it.
Eugh boy~ He wasn't looking forward to this.
"Charmed I'm sure." Lucifer comments flatly, getting flirted with by your daughter's friends was just awkward!
"While I'd love to catch up, Charlie and I have a tour to continue." Alastor places a hand on Lucifer's shoulder, grasping Charlie's hand with her left
They're going together? Oh, this was the perfect chance to bond!
"Why don't you let the others help you settle in? I'll be back before you know it,"
Lucifer doesn't bother saying goodbye to the sinner, he's too hyped for the tour. He had to do this right! Ask the right questions, say the right things, really get across how sorry he was to Alastor and get things across that he wanted to be in both Charlie and Alastor's life.
There could be no room for misunderstanding!
"So...Alastor," He treads carefully, quietly celebrating that he'd finally gotten her name right, succeeding in burning it into his memory so he'd never forget it again. "How long have you been working with my Charlie,"
That's a good question, right? A safe and most importantly seemingly impersonal!
"Why, I'd have to think your majesty!" She grins faux counting the months on her clawed fingertips. "I've been supporting the princess in her endeavors for around a year now!"
"Oh how the time flies~" She reminisces, waltzing through the hallways with a pep in her step. "It feels like just yesterday, I showed up at your doors after an extermination."
The exterminations. Oh father, the exterminations!
A million different scenarios flew through his head at once. She could've-! Lucifer hadn't specified that those sharing his blood would be exempt from the carnage—He hadn't thought he would ever need to! Only Charlie, Lilith and the hellborn.
The exorcists could've-!
Adam wouldn't have cared if Alastor was of Lucifer's blood; in fact, he would've taken joy in being able to strike her down without consequences!
He would've bragged!
Heaven could've killed his child... Heaven could've killed his youngest daughter without remorse and Lucifer would've been none the wiser.
His child could have died, and he would have been the one to approve the slaughter!
Was he supposed to talk to Sera about this?— She hadn't exactly reacted kindly to Charlie's existence how was he supposed to bring up Alastor?
"Hey, Sera! Remember that child I had with Lillith? Yeah? Well now I've got another child with another woman, she's a full grown cannibal now!" Like that'd go over well in any universe!
He wasn't even supposed to be visiting earth!
Wouldn't it be safer to have her take shelter outside the pride ring? He could make an exception for her; maybe he'd bring that up later.
"What did you do before this?" This question is safer, though not by much.
Alastor chuckles clasping her microphone- a huge hint that had flown straight over his head. "I'm most remembered from my radio broadcasts; perhaps you've heard of them?"
His daughter did radio broadcasts?
"Nope! But I haven't listened to much of anything in a good long while!" Lucifer chuckles awkwardly, tapping a pattern onto the floor with his staff.
That's... Not a great excuse. "Maybe I should check them out?" That'd be a good way to bond, right? Show interest in her interests?
"NO!" Charlie sputters, choking over her own words as she stepped between them. "I mean- no, I wouldn't do that unprepared,"
"What?"
"Um, Alastor's broadcasts aren't exactly...For the faint of heart. " Her face shifts between a dozen different emotions before she settled on that. "No offense Al,"
"None taken!" Alastor chirps. "But I feel the need to add that my broadcasts have gotten much tamer since I've returned,"
"That's great news Alastor! Maybe we can work on-"
"Yes. it's such a shame but the pickings have grown slimmer and slimmer. Nowadays, overlords just aren't worth hunting,"
"Oh," Charlie's shoulders sag in a flat disappointment, her face wilting like a flower in the summer sun.
"Don't look so disappointed my dear!" Alastor pats Charlie's head, ruffling her bangs with her palm. "I haven't killed an overlord in a decade or so!"
"Wait, she's been killing overlords?" Lucifer cuts in, because he thinks Charlie's skipped past that little fact far too early.
Regular sinners were vile, selfish, and violent but overlords were the worst of the worst! It's like they saw their afterlife as a ranked event where they had to kill, violate, and destroy more than anyone else could in order to win!
Greedy little things, that incessantly reached out for every drop of power they could get their grubby hands on!
Whatever his youngest daughter did to them, nobody could say it wasn't deserved.
"Since the day I dropped down," Alastor preens, cupping a claw to her face as if she were reminiscing over a first love.
"Hahaha Really?" How long had she been here? "Wouldn't they have come back to uh," Lucifer mimes a stabbing motion with his staff, but Alastor's grin only widens.
"No one I've ever dedicated my efforts to has managed to piece themselves back together yet!" It's an accomplishment to her—Should Lucifer be proud? With the way Charlie wilts under her sister's tone, he's conflicted.
"Though, that statement has become far less impressive with all the angelic scrap left laying around," Her face twists, teeth bared sharp into a grin that felt like a snarl more than anything.
"I swear, folks have gotten so lazy nowaday's..."
"Ahahaha... I don't think you're upset about that for the right reasons Al," Charlie coughs, this conversation seeming to be aging her a thousand years.
"Why of course I'm upset for the right reasons!" She laughs "Just last week a common thug got his hands on a dagger the angels left behind. Went and killed my favorite butcher! It is such a shame these types of weapons are so easily available,"
"Hey boss?" The Chimera bartender from earlier calls out from across the hallway.
Wasn't he supposed to be in the lobby with that Nimzy?
"Can I talk to you over there for a second?" Lucifer can't stop the way his face darkens, mouth twisting into something of a snarl. "It's," The cat stutters, swallowing nervously— Good. "It's important," Who does this sinner think he is?
"It's appears I'm needed elsewhere," Alastor hums, eyes flicking back to him and Charlie. "I assume you'll be alright to go ahead without me?"
'No! Stay with us! He'll be fine on his own!' Is what he doesn't say, the bonding opportunity slipping through his fingers. "Go ahead, we'll catch up with you," Is what he says instead, thinly hiding his glare as the Chimera leads Alastor away.
"Um...Dad?" Charlie stammers awkwardly, her red eyes sparkling.
"Yes, duckling?" Lucifer chirps absently, eyes still locked towards where his youngest had been guided off to.
"You seem pretty interested in Alastor,"
"What?" Lucifer blinks. 'Of course he's interested in Alastor; that's his child!
"I mean, I didn't think you two would get along—because you and Alastor can be kind of prickly, but you do get along! And I'm really glad you like her,"
Looking at Charlie's elated expression it dawns on him.
Oh.
Oh shit!
Charlie thought he was 'interested~' in Alastor!
"No!" Lucifer takes a step back, making an X with his hands as he dry heaves. "Nope! That is NOT what is happening right now!"
Did Charlie not know? "Gross-gross-gross-gross gross!" Alastor clearly spoke like she was aware of their connection, but if Charlie knew she would've never implied something like that!
Why wouldn't Alastor tell her?
"Dad!" Charlie scolds her shoulders puffing up as she jumped to defend who she knew as her friend. "Alastor's really pretty, she'd be really upset if she heard you say that!"
"She is, and I'm glad you two get along but I was NOT and never will be interested in her," Lucifer draws a clear line glancing back to the hall, "In that way," He tacks on for extra measure.
"Do you uh- know Alastor or something?" Charlie's girlfriend— Maggie, he thinks it was— asks, her eyebrows peaked.
"I..." Lucifer hesitates. Should he tell them? If Charlie really didn't know, this would be like dropping a nuclear bomb into her life! But if he said nothing at all, that's no better than lying directly to her face.
"I was familiar with her mother, Nicaise. Alastor looks so much like her," Is what he finally settles on. It's vague. The admission of guilt strong enough to strangle him!
And Charlie... Charlie doesn't catch the implication. Her girlfriend seems to, her eyes blowing wide as dinner plates; but Charlie doesn't.
Of course he'd need to say it out loud.
He'd have to admit directly how he'd betrayed both Nicaise and their child; abandoning them both without a second thought.
Learning she'd had a younger sister this whole time would destroy her!
"You were friends with Alastor's mom?!" She squeals, bouncing on her hooves in pure delight!
Without taking a breath, a waterfall of questions spill from his daughter's lips.
"Was Alastor cute as a kid?" Lucifer wishes he knew the answer.
"What was she like? Do you have any baby photos" He didn't know; and no he didn't.
Did people even take baby photos when Alastor was born? Maybe?...Probably? He wasn't familiar enough with the development of human tech to speak on that.
When Charlie was a baby, they painted portraits, but that was because he and Lilith had made a tradition out of posing for them.
"Alastor never tells us much of anything about her childhood, but she's always spoken so sweetly about her mom," And isn't that a knife to the gut? That his child's mother was the main thing she spoke fondly of.
"I uh," He stammers. "I wish I knew what she looked like as a kid— She probably looked a little like you did as a tyke," Oh man...Thinking about all the moments he'd missed was going to make him cry!
First words...
First steps...
So many firsts he'd never get to see!
"Oh shit!" Charlie's girlfriend hisses, before slapping a hand to her mouth frantically glancing between Lucifer and where Alastor had walked off.
That cat guy had dragged Alastor away quite a bit ago...
Shouldn't he have brought her back by now?
What could be so important for him to have kept her away from their tour for so long?
Had something happened?
...
Tap.. Tap.. Tap..
Lucifer's cane rapped noisily against the weathered wooden floors.
Why was he so nervous? She was her boss from the sounds of it—but in hell, employees killed their employers all the time.
Often times it was deserved but other times it wasn't.
"Should we go check on them?" As Lucifer stared, that hallway couldn't seem more far away. A lot could happen within a couple of minutes— His youngest could bleed out in that amount of time.
"Um, I'm pretty sure Husk and Alastor have got whatever's going on handled!"
That's not what he meant.
"Alastor's a one woman security system!"
Was that good? There's implications in the fact she'd had to fight as much as she did but maybe that's what she liked to do? Plenty of demons loved to brawl! At least it was something to level out Charlie's pacifist stance.
"That's nice, but that cat guy seemed pretty worried when he called Alastor over,"
Charlie frowns wringing her hands "Well, Alastor isn't a fan of people poking into her business...but! If it's related to the hotel, it couldn't hurt to take a peek,"
That's all the permission Lucifer needs before he's sticking his head out the door and scanning the scene for his daughter!
And he's glad he did.
"Hey!" Lucifer calls out down the hallway "uh- what's going on here?" Pointing a finger between his daughter and the Chimera.
Alastor looked pissed!
Red eyes were narrowed, glowing fiercely in the dim lighting of the hall. They were like radio dials— old ones you'd find on vintage tech.
Her teeth were set into a tight, strained smile like the corners of her lips had been stitched to her cheekbones.
And Cat-guy has his tail tucked between his legs—Literally!
"Husker was just letting me know of a problem down in the lobby that needs my attention,"
"Oh." Lucifer wilts, "Well, can't you have that guy take care of it?" The Chimera seemed plenty capable if not a little grumpy. "We've still got a tour to get back to don't we?"
"I'm afraid this is a more pressing issue that I've more experience in handling than husker does. But if you're really so directionally challenged, I'm sure my pal here can help you out,"
"That won't be needed, Charlie can finish the tour for you," No offense to the Chimera, but Lucifer wasn't here to spend time with him. He's here to spend time with Charlie and the other daughter he hadn't known existed until today!
"If that's all. I'll take my leave," Alastor steps back, disappearing into the shadows with practiced grace. Seconds after she left Lucifer found himself turning over every word he'd spoken to her.
How badly had he fucked this up?
First off, he'd insulted her multiple times within the span of the first few minutes of meeting her.
and second and most importantly— He's a dead beat father who left the mother of his child to fend for herself!
Not a good start.
Who's to say there really was a problem downstairs? Maybe she just wanted to get away from him!
The chimera was probably here to make an excuse for her to leave! Lucifer narrowed his eyes at the cat sinner, who was staring befuddled.
"What the fuck was that about?" The cat murmured under his breath as he slinks back down to the lobby.
Continuing their walk through the hotel, the trio heads towards one of many balcony. Lucifer finds it hard to pay attention. It's not that he didn't care about what Charlie was saying— He did! Charlie was so kind and patient to open a safe space to these sinners but...
He can't help but worrying about both his children.
Alastor was confined to the pride ring for now. So a place like this was good for her!
Charlie avoided physical conflict like the plague, so having her sister and that Maggie girl to strike down whoever tried to harm her was good for her.
But this whole redemption thing? It'd bring heaven straight to their doors soon enough! Maybe he could negotiate the hotel being off limits? It was a business run by royals after all. The only problem with that idea is that the most awful of sinners would see the protection as an opportunity.
Dealings with heaven went by slower than tar! Unless it was something the higher ups themselves wanted something to go through you'd be waiting for all eternity.
So if the hotel was overthrown by a passing overlord, it might take years for heaven to revoke their protections from the hotel.
And by then, they'd use the damage caused as an excuse to terminate all other protections.
"Soooo Dad... What do you think?" Charlie chirps hopefully breaking him out of his spiral. She's grinning ear to ear, bouncing on the front of her hooves.
"Huh? About what?"
They were talking about something weren't they? What was it?
"The hotel!" Charlie exclaims, hands flying to her scalp as if she's ready to tear out her hair from its roots!
Quickly Lucifer! Say something vaguely positive!
"Oh, it looks much better now doesn't it? But I'm still thinking it needs a tad more
"Is this about the—Dad!" She snaps "Alastor isn't going to eat anyone!"
There's a pregnant pause, with Maggie raising a doubtful eyebrow.
"...She's not going to eat anyone apart of the hotel"
"That's not what I was implying!" He stresses, "I know how cannibal sinners are! They can't help it, they're probably the only ones here who're always starving to death!" And that...That really sucked now that he's thinking about it.
It's actually a major sacrifice that Alastor agreed to tone the cannibalism down for her sister.
Lucifer didn't control the forms sinners took when they arrived in hell, but there's got to be something he could do for her.
There had to be a way he could ease his youngest's pain...
"They are?" Charlie stammers.
"Uh, yeah? Cannibalism is one of those sins that's most often done for survival... That's why it's a punishment for anyone damned for it to be cursed with an eternal hunger."
And he supposed that's how the cannibals grew to enjoy the act of cannibalism. Why spend you're entire afterlife wallowing in sorrow and guilt when you know the guy you butchered a week ago is out at the club lying about how they "totally kicked that freaks ass,"
"What's with the switch up?" Charlie's girlfriend asked.
"Hmm?" Switch up? Lucifer hadn't switched up on anything! He simply changed his mind after new information surfaced.
"Uh, you seemed pretty upset about Alastor being a cannibal earlier sir. So I'm wondering what changed?"
Scratching his chin, Lucifer sighs. Was he biased?
The time he'd spent with Alastor's mom was wonderful— Probably some of happiest days of his life including the time he's spent with his family. And apparently, they'd had a daughter together!
Lucifer's a girl dad through and through— Nevermind the fact he'd never had a son.
"I guess I was just stressed out about what you're doing out here..." And now he's stressed out for completely different reasons!
"Dad,"
"I know that you want to see the best in people, and you want to help but, these sinners out there? They're just the worst— I- I don't know what you expect from them in heaven."
Adjusting the collar of his shirt Lucifer continues. "Heaven is not as carefree as you think... They've got rules. Lots of them! And they're not so forgiving to those who break them."
Charlie's face scrunches up, her cheeks going red. "These are our people, dad! I... I have to try,"
"Our "people" are horrible Charlie! They were gifted with free will and look what they did with it!" Lucifer gestured at the streets below. The smell of brain matter and burning rubber never faded here, the screams of sinners torturing each other becoming background noise!
"Listen, I don't want you to put your life on the line for people like—"
As if to prove his exact point a loud "BOOM!" Shakes the hotel on it's foundations, a spray of bullets embedding itself into their front doors.
"Well, people like that."
Two shark-like sinners carried a battering ram, the others armed to the teeth as they shouted obscenities!
"Mimzy! We know you're in there you lousy bitch!"
Who were they talking about, again?
Mimzy... The name seemed familiar, was it the little maid girl? No, maid girl's name started with an 'N'.
So who else was there?
Cat guy's name ended with a k
And the lanky pink spider's name started with an A
The snake's name was a pun.
Charlie and Maggie were up here with him, and the sharks hadn't shot them yet so that left...
!
It was Alastor's little friend! The one who knew her when she was alive!
Shit. He couldn't let her die. He still had questions about his daughter!
Rushing down the stairs, Lucifer finds himself asking the same question as his daughter's girlfriend. "What's going on down here?"
"Shit!" The blonde 'Mimzy,' ducks behind the bar... or she tries to. The Chimera is quick to push her back out into the spotlight.
"You're majesty," She chuckles nervously, "I maaaaaay have gotten into a little bit of trouble with some loan sharks I borrowed fifty grand from,"
"You better get out here!" One of the loan sharks shouts, throwing a brick through the window. The cyclops maid screams out as if the brick had hit her as she immediately scampers over to sweep up the glass.
"And I might've also stolen a car...and crashed it," The woman pauses, curling her hair around her painted nails. " into the loan shark's girlfriend. But the bitch had it coming!"
Why was he even surprised?
"We're under siege!" The snake guy screams as everyone scrambles around the lobby in a panic.
Fire licks across the carpet spreading wildly until the entire room was engulfed in flames.
"Fucking damn it!" The cat growls, batting the flames eating away at the bar with a metal tray. The fur on his legs was already starting to char as he stomped out a growing ember with the rage of a thousand men. "I knew this shit was going to happen!"
"This is exaaactly what I'm talking about Charlie," He sighs, putting out the flames with his magic. "You build something nice, you invite people in and offer them everything and they just bring violence and chaos to your doorstep." Lucifer give the group a humorless laugh. "It doesn't matter how well intentioned you are, they're always going to disappoint you."
What remained of the hotel's window began to shake, wood and glass crumbling down onto the little maid. Or it would've if the snake guy hadn't picked her up by the collar before the rubble could crush her.
"Everyone get to a safe distance. I'll take care of this." Raising a spear, her heroic act is interrupted by a red clawed hand pushing the weapon back down with a dark chuckle.
"No, my dear, leave it to me." His youngest daughter steps into the fray, voice glitching as she spoke. "It's time to remind everyone why I am Here," Alastor stands, tall and unafraid.
Glowing tendrils of inky black burst from her back like wings lunging forward to tear the offending sinners limb from bloody limb.
"Took you fucking long enough!" Mimzy shouts; Lucifer has never snapped his head around to glare at someone faster.
This woman was a bad influence.
A green glow engulfs the area his youngest's body snapping and twisting into something larger than the hotel itself.
Her sharp teeth grew even sharper the blood of the loan sharks soon rushing down the sides of her stitched maw when she impaled them on
"Holy shit!" He whispers behind his hand. Blood and organs rumble from the gaps in her jaw, her spindly hands cupping out to catch the viscera for later consumption.
"I will devour each and every one of you!" She cackles, bloody teeth on display. Screams of agony echo throughout the lobby.
Was this his fault? Had she been in hell so long that she'd forgotten you shouldn't eat anything when you don't know where it's been?
But did he really have the right to say anything? When he wasn't there for as a child, and he wasn't there for her as an adult. She'd died so unbelievably young!
Maybe the best thing he could do was be supportive even if her method of 'taking care of the threat,' was a bit more violent than he expected?
"Whoo! Get their assess!" He cheers, clapping awkwardly much to Charlie's confusion.
Her daughter's face twists into a grinning snarl, teeth snapping down around a sinners throat, severing the man's head from his body with a wet crunch.
———————
"What's up with the short king? I knew he had a thing for tall women but must really want that~" Angel whispers—
"No!" Vaggie snaps, a sickly green taking over her face as she interrupts him. "He doesn't— just no!"
"I know ya hate Alastor, but the spot of mother-in-law is still open-"
"Stop! If what I think is true is true you're going to regret whatever sex joke you've got planned," Vaggie hisses through her teeth.
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
——————-
"Dad... If you can cheer for Alastor as she rips people apart why can't you support me?
"I... can't," Lucifer turns away. He couldn't do this, he couldn't send his daughter to the wolves.
"Why can't you?" Charlie snaps.
"Charlie!" Gripping his daughter's shoulders as if she was about ripped away forever, Lucifer weeps. "Heaven won't listen, they never do and they never will!"
"You don't know that!"
"I do!" Lucifer knew it more than anyone else.
"I've tried this all before!" He tried for Lilith, and humans everywhere! And it all blew up in his face. "My dreams were too hard to defend,"
"I can't lose everything again!" He shouts his hands trembling. "I can't lose you," More than anything in hell or on earth he'd love his family.
He could shelter and adore his children more than anything, but there's one thing he couldn't protect them against!
He'd kick and scream, tear feathers out with his teeth until blood stained his mouth gold but he'd be no match for heaven's army.
With scowls of disdain, and a thousand sharpened spears they'd take his daughter from him, and before her body went cold, they'd fly down to slaughter his youngest.
"Dad, I don't need you to protect me from this." Charlie takes Lucifers hands in hers, her expression just as determined.
"I- just don't want you to be crushed by them like I was,
"Dad, when I was really young, I didn't really know you at all," Charlie starts, and it hurts more than anything.
"I always felt so small, but I was enthralled by your stories. And I always imagined that someday I'd do something meaningful— something like you did!"
"Dad, you showed me dreams were worth fighting for," Charlie weeps.
"I need to save my people— our family's people more than anything," Taking a breath, Lucifer wipes a tear from her cheek.
"You know, I've been dying to find out who you are."
"I've been waiting, wanting the same thing,"
"Now, it seems like I've been turning away from you this whole time," He's scared, Hell he's terrified! Terrified of loosing her and terrified of pushing her away!
"Looks like the apple doesn't fall far" He chuckles, pulling his daughter into a hug. "I'll support your dream, no matter what lies in store!"
"Just..." In that moment every horrible thing that could happen to her flashed in front of his eyes. 'Charlie's strong, she's all grown up now,' he tries to remind himself but it doesn't help. "When I get you this meeting, promise, you'll be careful," Her hands feel smaller in his—tiny, she'd always be his little girl.
"I promise I'll come back safe. I'll get them to listen,"
Tearily, he drops her hands "I'm proud of you, Charlie. I always have been and I always will be,"
"You know I can't come with you to heaven? Will you be ok?"
"I'll be fine dad," Charlie grins.
"That's my girl," He sighs hands falling to his side. There's still something he had to do here. A conversation that needed to be had with both his children.
But where to start?
"What a sickeningly sweet performance." A melodic voice reverberates throughout the ruined lobby.
His youngest—Alastor steps over the rubble blood gluing strands of stray hair to her cheeks. There's not a scratch on her; the blood stains undistinguishable from the crimson of her suit.
"There's nothing more heartwarming than a father sending his daughter to her death after a single conversation!"
"You'd think it'd take more convincing!" In her voice there's a feeling he'd only dreaded. And in that moment, he'd thought she'd want nothing more than to tear his heart out of his chest— He'd deserve it!
"But why am I not surprised?"
"Alastor," He chokes back a sob, "I'm so sorry— If I'd known that Nicaise was-" Alastor freezes at the sound of her mother's name.
Swallowing a mouthful of bile Lucifer rips off the band-aid "If I'd known your mother was pregnant, I would've been there for her— for you!"
Alastor doesn't speak, and now the words were falling from his mouth like vomit. "I know I didn't have anything to with it, but Alastor I'm so proud of how strong you've become!"
"If you'd let me," Lucifer sighs, it's time to go for it. If he's struck down that's on him, he's got an eternity to make things up to her. "I'd like to be a part of your life."
"What." When Lucifer looks up, his daughter is standing stiff as a board; her eye's blown wide as if she'd just been shot.
Her face had gone pale, the fluffy deer ears atop her head pinned rigid against her skull. "I- What?" His youngest stammers before turning hoof and disappearing into her own shadow leaving them.
Staring at where his daughter once stood Lucifer felt incredibly cold, his fingers clammy and his eyes stinging.
That... That had gone poorly.
She'd ran away! Was being his daughter really so awful that she felt the need to flee?
At least things couldn't get much worse
"WHAT THE FUCK DAD?!"
"Smiles is a princess!!?"
"Holy sssshit!"
Right. He'd forgot there was an audience.