Morningstar

“ —- how long have those been there?” Eyebrows furrow a moment, and she nearly moves just to try and touch them before she decides against it, settling with her hands in her lap. Right. Well. That made things much less complicated. Jesus, those were better constructed than half of the wards at the mill house – although the mill house had dozens of other security systems in place. “Y’know, if I didn’t think I’d wear out my welcome I’d just sleep here all the time.” It’s meant as a joke. True, or not. She smirks slightly regardless, pinching the bridge of her nose and falling back into his bed with a huff. “Your bed’s better than mine too.”

       “I’m just — I’m pretty sure that thing that killed me came in under my door, so –” Maybe. Honestly, she didn’t remember much. But that seemed right. “And I’m sure yours is secure, but ….” She was nervous. In general.

“ — We can’t just – we can’t just go to an adult store, people would raise eyebrows.” Or something. That seemed like a decent enough excuse, anyway. Regardless, if he really wanted to drag her to one, she wouldn’t put her foot down, but she’d be crimson the entire trip. Smiling when he hands her a chocolate, she laughed, and quickly popped it into her mouth. “I’m not worried about being judged for buying it, I just – I dunno. Feels better to buy it for other people, I guess.” And then reap the benefits. It hardly matters, in the long run. The thought fades quickly though, as soon as he mentions leaving the crowd – thank god, it was never really her crowd anyway. Even if she’s not sure what he’s implying. “Absolutely. Yeah, please.”

“Lu, what could I possibly need to go into an adult store for – don’t answer that.” She blushes, as she asks, nose wrinkling as her glance moves towards her feet. There was a reason she’d never been into one, she could barely handle the subject as it was. So she drops it quickly, smiling gently as he continued to talk. “That a threat or a promise?” She winks at him, settling herself as he chews. Special or not – it was only candy. And while she’s certain it’s probably not the kind of thing he’s USED to – she hadn’t even considered NOT bringing him something. He’d done enough for her to warrant getting chocolate, at least. “Ah, yeah – yeah. The sales are better, but it feels kind of sad, buying chocolate in bulk for yourself cus no one else would, y’know? This way I can buy it for other people, and just …. keep the extras….”

“Never been into an adult store.” Lips press into a line for a moment, if only because she’s not sure how to respond, really. He was right, but it was hardly her wheel house – she was better with vague sentimentality. Hence the candy. “Mm, one upping you’s been my goal this entire time.” She winks. It hadn’t been what she’d intended, though. “I just like giving out candy, that’s all. Valentine’s day is a good excuse.” It was her own tradition. She was always single, she doubted that would chance any time soon. Might as well take advantage of the chocolate sales. “Gives me a good excuse to stock up on chocolate, y’know?”

Loki touched the other man’s cheek, briefly, but without any disgust or fear of what he just witnessed. “Your scars, Lucifer, make you no less handsome than you are now. They speak of terrible things you’ve endured and which I dare not begin imagine. They are also a testimony of survival. Of strength. Of victory over whatever misfortune and suffering you’ve experienced. That in itself is quite beautiful. Stars would not shine if they weren’t burning.” the Trickster said. “That sounds splendidly…” he chuckled. It seemed someone finally wanted to stand up to Odin for him. That was a novelty and something he wholeheartedly appreciated. “My, my… So much flattery and to think I am the one known as the Silvertongue… To answer your question, it takes a lot of magic to travel between the realms for they are divided very far apart. Only Odin and I mastered this skill. Everyone else use the Bifrost, a magical bridge. While Bifrost saves a lot of effort, it’s not quite efficient and lands you only in fixed places. Travelling via your own magic leads you to the exact spot you desire. My seidr… or magic, if that’s what you prefer to call it, has many more uses than that. I can change my form as I please. I can cast illusions and summon ice and fire for they both answer my command best. It is very useful skill, even though Asgardians consider it ergi. Unmanly. While none of them would ever dare to call Odin that, they have no qualms saying that about me, poor fools acting as though I care. They limited views are so very laughable and outdated. They embarass themselves, but that’s their choice. And you? What powers do you wield?”

The sudden tenderness is unexpected, but he does not balk from it. The Devil merely stands there and listens. The fires of Hell had borne him more than Mum and Dad ever had, they had made him what he was today, and they had irrevocably changed him. Though his beauty was part magic, part past visage, to hear that from someone who seemed to be the redheaded step-child (perhaps literally) of his family, it created a particular tightness in his chest, a warm pool deep in his gut. “Yes, well. I suppose there was some irony in my given name, then, Morningstar.” A bit of an uncomfortable chuckle as he found his footing again, instead of being a bumbling buffoon. Thankful for the change in topic, Lucifer wonders if he truly could stand up to a man like Odin Allfather. He was real, and was the Norse equivalent of dear old Dad, perhaps he’d be too strong, but he’d give it the old college try, that much was certain. Those who were deserving of punishment would not make him back down from an opportunity without putting his best effort in.” Lucifer smiled, “Well, flattery is but one of my many charms, perhaps that’s another reason they may have conflated the two of us...mythologically speaking, of course. It’s not flattery if it’s true, my good man~.” 

“I do trust you, I just ….” She pauses, sucking a breath in as her eyes screw tightly shut. Of course she trusted him. And of course she knew she mattered, in some way or another, although she’d never have gone so far to call herself important. That felt like asking for too much, somehow. Like it was the kind of thing she shouldn’t aspire to be. She was just a blip on the radar compared to him, she couldn’t hope to even really chart. But that didn’t mean she wanted to be anywhere other than with him. “I didn’t realize – important is a word we use pretty sparingly….”

Still, the feeling was complicated, and she was TIRED. She’d tried to tell him that before, despite the fact that she knew he’d never really understand. Her head finds his chest before she can continue, arms slumping some under his grip. And she’s very quickly turned to something akin to mush, a wreck of emotions that she’s barely managing to contain. “Everything changed too fast.” What she wanted to do, desperately at this point, was SLEEP. She couldn’t though, not yet. Strong as the temptation might have been. She’d tried. And tried, and tried, and tried. It never felt safe anymore. She’d gone from her bed, to the couch, and the bathtub and back, none of it felt secure anymore. Not the way it used to. So she slumped into his chest instead, breath hitching as she tried to contain herself. She didn’t understand. How any of this could have happened. How she could have been put in this position to begin with, or why he’d have picked HER of all people to spend time with. Although that, out of everything, was the thing she was most glad for. “I dunno what to do anymore, I can’t sleep at home ….”

Lucifer raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t question her, you just what? but he knew nothing good would come of it. The argument seemed to be fizzling out, and she was tired, he could feel it on her now. Even if he didn’t understand the concept as much, he understand how that felt as he held her. “You’re right, it is. I don’t call in favours and personally send angels to Hell to get unimportant people out.” His tone is pointed, as though to say which means you’re important, you silly woman. Accept it. The Devil may not have had many important people, but he was happy to add Liv to the list. “You’re the first person who’s told me that I’m all they have,” he says in a fit of unexpected honesty. Lying was not his thing, but he didn’t intend to say that out loud.