Charlie Morningstar

"Hey, Dad...how're you feeling?"

@redemptionispossible

[LUCIFER immediately tries to look 'normal', like everything's fine and hes not intoxicated.]

"hey-hey, char! everythings— everything's fine, why are, uh, why are you asking?"

[he frowns.]

"are you okay, baby? whats wrong?"

"I'm fine, Dad."

The response is automatic. A phrase that comes out easier than it should woth how she actually feels.

"I'm just concerned about you, that's all."

She tries to keep her tone gentle, despite the slight panic at the back of her mind. She doesn't know what her dad is like while high. She didn't even know he got high. Was this a one-time thing? Or something regular he did behind her back?

She tries to ignore the other voices at the back of her head. She'd almost forgotten about the curse placed upon her. She's not a kid anymore. She can do this. She can handle anything that comes her way.

[he reaches up to cup her face.]

"I'm fine, Dad. Really."

She almost flinches as her dad moves to touch her face, freezing for a second. It's strange. Normally, she's anything but touch-averse. Charlie loves showing her affection through hugs and handholding and other little touches. She shouldn't pull away from this. She shouldn't want to pull away from this. Why does she?...She melts into the contact after the second passes. She'll always crave attention and affection from her father, after all.

"...Dad, I know you're high. Don't deny it."

She can't beat around why she's here. She has to be direct.

"I dont— I dont know what you.."

[one look at her face, and he cant bring himself to deny it.]

"...m'fine, swear on— can— i cant swear on the Bible, but I swear m'fine. not hurt, see? look at— look at me, peak condition! the most thats bugging me is— bugging isnt the word, its more like a craving— I could go for some chili right about now. dont know whhy."

She speaks with a tired smile. Tired in the sense of knowing she has to take care of her dad in this state and knowing she's willing to do so...but really wishing she didn't have to do so.

"I can make you chili, Dad. I'm sure we've got the ingredients for it."

Also a glass of water. It won't cure anything but hydration is still important.

"I don't want you just wandering off for a craving in the middle of the night, okay?..."

[he pats her cheeks.]

"y'aint gotta worry about me, sweetheart. your old man can take care of himself just fine."

Her dad isn't hurt right now. She doesn't need that changing on her.

Her expression tightens with the last statement. That is such a fucking lie. If he could "take care of himself", he'd be a proper leader to sinners just like Mom was. If he could "take care of himself", she would have seen him for more than an hour a day, if she even got that lucky, because he was too busy keeping himself locked away in his office otherwise. If he could "take care of himself", her Mom and Dad would still be together and she wouldn't have been estranged from him for 7 years and she wouldn't be alone and she wouldn't be a failure and a disappointment to everyone around her and-

She forces herself to take a breath. Her chest hurts. Her heart aches.

"...Okay, Dad. If you say so."

She changes the conversation. A mix of needing information and avoiding the storm of emotions brewing in her head.

Whatever. He's an adult. She shouldn't have to pry information from him like it's pulling teeth. If he supposedly can take care of himself then fine. Whatever. Don't tell her anything.

[did his voice crack?]

[LUCIFER sighs, and he nods.]

"...mkay. yeah. sounds good. im, uh.."

[breathe in. out.]

Normally, she's the one apologizing for her fuck-ups. She's not used to getting one in return. Her gut instinct is to forgive. She's Charlie, after all. Forgiveness runs through her veins as much as blood does. She wants to say "it's okay". That she forgives him.

...What's stopping her? Why can't she get the words out.

"Hey, Dad...how're you feeling?"

@redemptionispossible

[LUCIFER immediately tries to look 'normal', like everything's fine and hes not intoxicated.]

"hey-hey, char! everythings— everything's fine, why are, uh, why are you asking?"

[he frowns.]

"are you okay, baby? whats wrong?"

"I'm fine, Dad."

The response is automatic. A phrase that comes out easier than it should woth how she actually feels.

"I'm just concerned about you, that's all."

She tries to keep her tone gentle, despite the slight panic at the back of her mind. She doesn't know what her dad is like while high. She didn't even know he got high. Was this a one-time thing? Or something regular he did behind her back?

She tries to ignore the other voices at the back of her head. She'd almost forgotten about the curse placed upon her. She's not a kid anymore. She can do this. She can handle anything that comes her way.

[he reaches up to cup her face.]

"I'm fine, Dad. Really."

She almost flinches as her dad moves to touch her face, freezing for a second. It's strange. Normally, she's anything but touch-averse. Charlie loves showing her affection through hugs and handholding and other little touches. She shouldn't pull away from this. She shouldn't want to pull away from this. Why does she?...She melts into the contact after the second passes. She'll always crave attention and affection from her father, after all.

"...Dad, I know you're high. Don't deny it."

She can't beat around why she's here. She has to be direct.

"I dont— I dont know what you.."

[one look at her face, and he cant bring himself to deny it.]

"...m'fine, swear on— can— i cant swear on the Bible, but I swear m'fine. not hurt, see? look at— look at me, peak condition! the most thats bugging me is— bugging isnt the word, its more like a craving— I could go for some chili right about now. dont know whhy."

She speaks with a tired smile. Tired in the sense of knowing she has to take care of her dad in this state and knowing she's willing to do so...but really wishing she didn't have to do so.

"I can make you chili, Dad. I'm sure we've got the ingredients for it."

Also a glass of water. It won't cure anything but hydration is still important.

"I don't want you just wandering off for a craving in the middle of the night, okay?..."

[he pats her cheeks.]

"y'aint gotta worry about me, sweetheart. your old man can take care of himself just fine."

Her dad isn't hurt right now. She doesn't need that changing on her.

Her expression tightens with the last statement. That is such a fucking lie. If he could "take care of himself", he'd be a proper leader to sinners just like Mom was. If he could "take care of himself", she would have seen him for more than an hour a day, if she even got that lucky, because he was too busy keeping himself locked away in his office otherwise. If he could "take care of himself", her Mom and Dad would still be together and she wouldn't have been estranged from him for 7 years and she wouldn't be alone and she wouldn't be a failure and a disappointment to everyone around her and-

She forces herself to take a breath. Her chest hurts. Her heart aches.

"...Okay, Dad. If you say so."

She changes the conversation. A mix of needing information and avoiding the storm of emotions brewing in her head.

Whatever. He's an adult. She shouldn't have to pry information from him like it's pulling teeth. If he supposedly can take care of himself then fine. Whatever. Don't tell her anything.

"Hey, Dad...how're you feeling?"

@redemptionispossible

[LUCIFER immediately tries to look 'normal', like everything's fine and hes not intoxicated.]

"hey-hey, char! everythings— everything's fine, why are, uh, why are you asking?"

[he frowns.]

"are you okay, baby? whats wrong?"

"I'm fine, Dad."

The response is automatic. A phrase that comes out easier than it should woth how she actually feels.

"I'm just concerned about you, that's all."

She tries to keep her tone gentle, despite the slight panic at the back of her mind. She doesn't know what her dad is like while high. She didn't even know he got high. Was this a one-time thing? Or something regular he did behind her back?

She tries to ignore the other voices at the back of her head. She'd almost forgotten about the curse placed upon her. She's not a kid anymore. She can do this. She can handle anything that comes her way.

[he reaches up to cup her face.]

"I'm fine, Dad. Really."

She almost flinches as her dad moves to touch her face, freezing for a second. It's strange. Normally, she's anything but touch-averse. Charlie loves showing her affection through hugs and handholding and other little touches. She shouldn't pull away from this. She shouldn't want to pull away from this. Why does she?...She melts into the contact after the second passes. She'll always crave attention and affection from her father, after all.

"...Dad, I know you're high. Don't deny it."

She can't beat around why she's here. She has to be direct.

"I dont— I dont know what you.."

[one look at her face, and he cant bring himself to deny it.]

"...m'fine, swear on— can— i cant swear on the Bible, but I swear m'fine. not hurt, see? look at— look at me, peak condition! the most thats bugging me is— bugging isnt the word, its more like a craving— I could go for some chili right about now. dont know whhy."

She speaks with a tired smile. Tired in the sense of knowing she has to take care of her dad in this state and knowing she's willing to do so...but really wishing she didn't have to do so.

"I can make you chili, Dad. I'm sure we've got the ingredients for it."

Also a glass of water. It won't cure anything but hydration is still important.

"I don't want you just wandering off for a craving in the middle of the night, okay?..."

[he pats her cheeks.]

"y'aint gotta worry about me, sweetheart. your old man can take care of himself just fine."

Her dad isn't hurt right now. She doesn't need that changing on her.

Her expression tightens with the last statement. That is such a fucking lie. If he could "take care of himself", he'd be a proper leader to sinners just like Mom was. If he could "take care of himself", she would have seen him for more than an hour a day, if she even got that lucky, because he was too busy keeping himself locked away in his office otherwise. If he could "take care of himself", her Mom and Dad would still be together and she wouldn't have been estranged from him for 7 years and she wouldn't be alone and she wouldn't be a failure and a disappointment to everyone around her and-

She forces herself to take a breath. Her chest hurts. Her heart aches.

"...Okay, Dad. If you say so."

She changes the conversation. A mix of needing information and avoiding the storm of emotions brewing in her head.

"Hey, Dad...how're you feeling?"

@redemptionispossible

[LUCIFER immediately tries to look 'normal', like everything's fine and hes not intoxicated.]

"hey-hey, char! everythings— everything's fine, why are, uh, why are you asking?"

[he frowns.]

"are you okay, baby? whats wrong?"

"I'm fine, Dad."

The response is automatic. A phrase that comes out easier than it should woth how she actually feels.

"I'm just concerned about you, that's all."

She tries to keep her tone gentle, despite the slight panic at the back of her mind. She doesn't know what her dad is like while high. She didn't even know he got high. Was this a one-time thing? Or something regular he did behind her back?

She tries to ignore the other voices at the back of her head. She'd almost forgotten about the curse placed upon her. She's not a kid anymore. She can do this. She can handle anything that comes her way.

[he reaches up to cup her face.]

"I'm fine, Dad. Really."

She almost flinches as her dad moves to touch her face, freezing for a second. It's strange. Normally, she's anything but touch-averse. Charlie loves showing her affection through hugs and handholding and other little touches. She shouldn't pull away from this. She shouldn't want to pull away from this. Why does she?...She melts into the contact after the second passes. She'll always crave attention and affection from her father, after all.

"...Dad, I know you're high. Don't deny it."

She can't beat around why she's here. She has to be direct.

"I dont— I dont know what you.."

[one look at her face, and he cant bring himself to deny it.]

"...m'fine, swear on— can— i cant swear on the Bible, but I swear m'fine. not hurt, see? look at— look at me, peak condition! the most thats bugging me is— bugging isnt the word, its more like a craving— I could go for some chili right about now. dont know whhy."

She speaks with a tired smile. Tired in the sense of knowing she has to take care of her dad in this state and knowing she's willing to do so...but really wishing she didn't have to do so.

"I can make you chili, Dad. I'm sure we've got the ingredients for it."

Also a glass of water. It won't cure anything but hydration is still important.

"I don't want you just wandering off for a craving in the middle of the night, okay?..."

"Hey, Dad...how're you feeling?"

@redemptionispossible

[LUCIFER immediately tries to look 'normal', like everything's fine and hes not intoxicated.]

"hey-hey, char! everythings— everything's fine, why are, uh, why are you asking?"

[he frowns.]

"are you okay, baby? whats wrong?"

"I'm fine, Dad."

The response is automatic. A phrase that comes out easier than it should woth how she actually feels.

"I'm just concerned about you, that's all."

She tries to keep her tone gentle, despite the slight panic at the back of her mind. She doesn't know what her dad is like while high. She didn't even know he got high. Was this a one-time thing? Or something regular he did behind her back?

She tries to ignore the other voices at the back of her head. She'd almost forgotten about the curse placed upon her. She's not a kid anymore. She can do this. She can handle anything that comes her way.

[he reaches up to cup her face.]

"I'm fine, Dad. Really."

She almost flinches as her dad moves to touch her face, freezing for a second. It's strange. Normally, she's anything but touch-averse. Charlie loves showing her affection through hugs and handholding and other little touches. She shouldn't pull away from this. She shouldn't want to pull away from this. Why does she?...She melts into the contact after the second passes. She'll always crave attention and affection from her father, after all.

"...Dad, I know you're high. Don't deny it."

She can't beat around why she's here. She has to be direct.

She kept her eye on this strange person until she witnessed what they were doing: freezing anyone that got in their path.

Immediately, she knew this was a concerning threat, and began to follow.

Soon, the figure walked up to Vee Tower and entered. Unable to get inside herself, she called Niffty and asked if she could follow this person.

Niffty arrived soon after and did as she was told, following them through the vents.

Inside, she saw several unfamiliar faces. A strangely dressed man speaking with Valentino, a small fluffy goat speaking with the figure from before, and a purplish teenager speaking with Vox.

Niffty watched from the vents as the stranger spoke with Vox, and froze him solid.

She reported back to Vaggi, regrouping. Vaggi decided to continue shadowing this strange person with Niffty after they left the tower.

The two followed them all the way into a back alley, where a strange portal stood shimmering.

Once the figure stepped through the portal, they slipped through quietly, finding themselves in a strange and unfamiliar place…

(Im definitely gonna need to get filled in with what's going on here)

(Charlie has poe's soul contract that's all ik rn)

"Hey, Dad...how're you feeling?"

@redemptionispossible

[LUCIFER immediately tries to look 'normal', like everything's fine and hes not intoxicated.]

"hey-hey, char! everythings— everything's fine, why are, uh, why are you asking?"

[he frowns.]

"are you okay, baby? whats wrong?"

"I'm fine, Dad."

The response is automatic. A phrase that comes out easier than it should woth how she actually feels.

"I'm just concerned about you, that's all."

She tries to keep her tone gentle, despite the slight panic at the back of her mind. She doesn't know what her dad is like while high. She didn't even know he got high. Was this a one-time thing? Or something regular he did behind her back?

She tries to ignore the other voices at the back of her head. She'd almost forgotten about the curse placed upon her. She's not a kid anymore. She can do this. She can handle anything that comes her way.

She kept her eye on this strange person until she witnessed what they were doing: freezing anyone that got in their path.

Immediately, she knew this was a concerning threat, and began to follow.

Soon, the figure walked up to Vee Tower and entered. Unable to get inside herself, she called Niffty and asked if she could follow this person.

Niffty arrived soon after and did as she was told, following them through the vents.

Inside, she saw several unfamiliar faces. A strangely dressed man speaking with Valentino, a small fluffy goat speaking with the figure from before, and a purplish teenager speaking with Vox.

Niffty watched from the vents as the stranger spoke with Vox, and froze him solid.

She reported back to Vaggi, regrouping. Vaggi decided to continue shadowing this strange person with Niffty after they left the tower.

The two followed them all the way into a back alley, where a strange portal stood shimmering.

Once the figure stepped through the portal, they slipped through quietly, finding themselves in a strange and unfamiliar place…

(Im definitely gonna need to get filled in with what's going on here)

(Charlie has poe's soul contract that's all ik rn)

Well, hope and chicken wings. She'd decided on bringing raw wings for her and Alastor's...adventure. She'd also opted to dress in full black for the occasion, complete with a black beanie and mask. She definitely didn't look like she was trying to imitate something she saw in a spy movie once.

It was supposed to be a simple plan. They break in, Alastor distracts Vox while Charlie digs through his office and finds the contract, they get out and she gives the contract to her dad so he can destroy it. Poe is free and everything is resolved! Yay! No one gets hurt and everything is easy for once. She just hopes it works.

She eyes the building up and down before facing Alastor, a mix of determination and nervousness.

"Ready?"

Charlie smiles, a surge of confidence filling her. They can do this! She can do this!

...Okay how does she do this?

*with that, he turns into a shadow and shoots off into the building. pretty soon after, loud crashing, screams, and other fighting sounds are heard*

*…*

She feels bad for anyone not involved in this who are now suddenly definitely involved. Well, there's certainly a distraction now, at least. She'll take it.

"Okay, I don't know how long this will take, but I'll shout for you when I'm done. Don't hesitate to yell for me if you need me, though! Okay, 1, 2, 3, let's go!"

…

She eyes the creature inside the tank...this must be the shark she's heard about a couple times now. Charlie grips the container with chicken wings just a little bit tighter.

"Good shark, good shark...stay still please stay still please for the love of everything stay fucking still..."

She quickly but quietly shuffles over to the desk, keeping an eye on the aquarium wall the whole time. She starts pulling open drawers, looking for which one contains soul contracts, looking back at the wall every few seconds.

She gasps as she opens one of the top drawers and finds a stack of what appears to be soul contracts peaking from behind a folder. One look at the top-most paper and she finds Poe's name written near the bottom. She snatches it with an eager grin.

"YES!"

...Too eager.

"...damnit."

Charlie freezes as the shark walks over to her, like a child who's been caught stealing from the cookie jar. Well...not an inaccurate comparison there. Way to fuck up at the end there, Charlie. Great job.

She fishes one of the chicken wings out of the container, extending her hand out to the creature.

..

"Here..."

She opens the container fully, stuffing the contract into her pocket.

"I will give you ALL of these if you let me go quietly. Does that sound good? Do we have a deal?"

*i. apparently forgot to ever specify. but this is Vark. i am sorry. agh. thought i mentioned it several reblogs ago but apparently nooot*

*he looks between the contract and the container of chicken a few times before he starts eating the rest of the chicken wings*

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! Enjoy the chicken!"

And with that, she's booking it out of the office and making her way downstairs. Now to get Alastor. The man refuses to use a cellphone or anything that isn't radio, so she doesn't have a way to contact him, except for...

"ALASTOR, I'M READY TO GO!"

…

*he appears fairly soon after she calls for him, grinning*

"Yup! No problems at all! I'm just a little suspicious that it's gone this well without any issues but it's probably fine, right?"

Now all she has to do is bring the contract to her dad and Poe will be free! Of course, there's still how they'll get him back on Earth...but one problem at a time.

Well, hope and chicken wings. She'd decided on bringing raw wings for her and Alastor's...adventure. She'd also opted to dress in full black for the occasion, complete with a black beanie and mask. She definitely didn't look like she was trying to imitate something she saw in a spy movie once.

It was supposed to be a simple plan. They break in, Alastor distracts Vox while Charlie digs through his office and finds the contract, they get out and she gives the contract to her dad so he can destroy it. Poe is free and everything is resolved! Yay! No one gets hurt and everything is easy for once. She just hopes it works.

She eyes the building up and down before facing Alastor, a mix of determination and nervousness.

"Ready?"

Charlie smiles, a surge of confidence filling her. They can do this! She can do this!

...Okay how does she do this?

*with that, he turns into a shadow and shoots off into the building. pretty soon after, loud crashing, screams, and other fighting sounds are heard*

*…*

She feels bad for anyone not involved in this who are now suddenly definitely involved. Well, there's certainly a distraction now, at least. She'll take it.

"Okay, I don't know how long this will take, but I'll shout for you when I'm done. Don't hesitate to yell for me if you need me, though! Okay, 1, 2, 3, let's go!"

…

She eyes the creature inside the tank...this must be the shark she's heard about a couple times now. Charlie grips the container with chicken wings just a little bit tighter.

"Good shark, good shark...stay still please stay still please for the love of everything stay fucking still..."

She quickly but quietly shuffles over to the desk, keeping an eye on the aquarium wall the whole time. She starts pulling open drawers, looking for which one contains soul contracts, looking back at the wall every few seconds.

She gasps as she opens one of the top drawers and finds a stack of what appears to be soul contracts peaking from behind a folder. One look at the top-most paper and she finds Poe's name written near the bottom. She snatches it with an eager grin.

"YES!"

...Too eager.

"...damnit."

Charlie freezes as the shark walks over to her, like a child who's been caught stealing from the cookie jar. Well...not an inaccurate comparison there. Way to fuck up at the end there, Charlie. Great job.

She fishes one of the chicken wings out of the container, extending her hand out to the creature.

..

"Here..."

She opens the container fully, stuffing the contract into her pocket.

"I will give you ALL of these if you let me go quietly. Does that sound good? Do we have a deal?"

*i. apparently forgot to ever specify. but this is Vark. i am sorry. agh. thought i mentioned it several reblogs ago but apparently nooot*

*he looks between the contract and the container of chicken a few times before he starts eating the rest of the chicken wings*

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! Enjoy the chicken!"

And with that, she's booking it out of the office and making her way downstairs. Now to get Alastor. The man refuses to use a cellphone or anything that isn't radio, so she doesn't have a way to contact him, except for...

"ALASTOR, I'M READY TO GO!"