tfln overflow

[harderdaddy]

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[harderdaddy]

[ooc: Oof, I did the same, saw this tag, got all excited to tag it later and then forgot <3]

[Angel Dust wasn't the sort of person invited to the Embassy. Was anyone apart from Charlie and her dad ever invited? Fuck if he knows. Politics, not his thing. The invite makes him a little nervous, and he opts not to tell anyone at the hotel where he's going when he leaves.

Stepping inside, Angel's lower arms are folded, holding himself. This whole place feel so...big and empty. His heels echo, and after some exploring he finds his way into the conference room.

The sight of Lute makes him tense up instinctively; hard to see an Exorcist and not be wary, stupid even. He puts on a more confident expression, head tilting curiously, and he gives a little mock curtsy.]

Ya called?

[absolutest]

[ooc: no worries, was delighted to get your tag; we can just keep on with this between tfln shenanigans :D]

I called, and you came.

[Lute unfolds her arms and takes a step closer to him. She's wearing her full Exorcist outfit, because that's just protocol. Don't let the Sinners see your real face unless you've got a damn good reason. Right now, she hasn't. She hadn't even been sure that Angel would show up. Here he is, though. Brave. She can appreciate that.]

Sit down.

[She gestures to a chair across from her. Sometimes they like to stick an extra holographic chair in there, see if they can make Lucifer fall on his ass, but this one's real. No games today. It's plush leather, looks like it belongs in some fancy office.]

I found the information you were looking for. [Which has to be obvious; she didn't invite him here for a tea party - but she doesn't want to keep him waiting unnecessarily.]

[harderdaddy]

[Angel takes a half step back reflexively. Even after spending the last few decades under Val's protection during the Extermination, the instinct to flee when seeing an Exorcist is still well ingrained.

He eyes the chair, his own arms crossing as he feels a bit like he's being ordered around, but wanting the information he bites his tongue and takes a seat. It's real cushy for a place no one is even in most of the year.]

...And?

[Maybe that was a bit too sharp. Angel frowns, and manages his tone a little better.]

Did you find her?

[absolutest]

[She waits until he's seated before she takes her own chair. Her back stays straight, posture upright. If she can see his nerves, she gives no indication of it.]

I found her. She's in Heaven.

[It had taken no small amount of effort, but she'd had the time, and once Lute set her mind to doing something, it got done. Everyone's name was recorded somewhere. She'd just had to find the right Molly.]

I didn't see her in person, but she's there. I'm certain.

[harderdaddy]

[Angel's always hoped and let himself believe that's where she was, but it could never quite stop that fear that she'd been dragged down here after her brothers and Pop. If any of them were due Heaven it was Molly, and the relief he feels in hearing she is up there where nothing can hurt her is palpable. He'd swear he was having a heart attack if he wasn't very familiar with how that felt, blinking away a stinging in his eyes and struggling to maintain that mask.]

Yeah?

[His voice cracks a little, and he coughs, trying to compose himself. He wants to know so much more now. Is she happy? How long has she been there? Does she hate him for how he left her? But he's got to be content with just the one for now.]

I...thank you. I always hoped that's where she was, but...knowin' makes it easier.

[absolutest]

[Lute watches him, intrigued by that reaction. She's never had a family in the way that humans do, or siblings like some of the first angels. People she cares about, yes, but this particular dynamic is one that she's only ever seen from the outside.]

Now you know.

[Lute leans back, feeling some small sense of satisfaction at being able to deliver the good news. She shouldn't. It shouldn't matter to her at all, he's only a sinner.

But Molly wasn't.]

You really care about her. [There's a faint surprise that she hasn't quite concealed. Sinners only care about themselves and their own hedonistic pleasures. There has to be some explanation.

She pushes the thought aside. It doesn't matter.] Have you got a message in case I see her? I'm not saying I will. [Yet she's asking, all the same.]

[harderdaddy]

'Course I do. Molly was the one bit a light up there.

[For him at least. The one things worth living for. He held on for her as long as he could, but the rest was just too much...]

Tell her...m'sorry. Sorry for leavin' her like that. That I didn' mean to. An' that I love her.

[His eyes burn and he becomes very fixated on his lap. He's not going to cry in front of the Exorcist. ]

[absolutest]

I'll tell her.

[She should give all the caveats again - if I find her, if I talk to her, if I have the time. Lute doesn't. She's seen Sinners in distress before, fleeing, pleading for their miserable lives, and none of it moved her for a second.

Why is this different? Because it isn't selfish? Because she feels like she knows him?

It's the porn demon, she reminds herself. He deserves what he gets and she'd kill him on Extermination Day like all the others. Hold the line, Lute. No weakness.]

I'll tell her all that. [It sounds like a promise. She leans forward.]

Did you abandon her on Earth, or did you leave her by dying? [It makes a difference.]

[harderdaddy]

[Angel finds he believes her. He's not sure why exactly, but she has kept her word so far when she didn't have to. Has affirmed that Molly is safe and alive, and that alone is enough to earn her more trust than half the fucks down here.]

...I OD'd. So both in a way. I wasn' tryin' to. Figure she was probably the one who found me...

[absolutest]

[Lute lies when she has to. She's not precious about it; sometimes it's necessary. Like when you have to keep the truth about how Heaven is safeguarded away from the easily outraged and terminally naive. What she doesn't do is lie without a good reason.

She won't sugarcoat things either. The angel taps her fingers on the table.]

Both. Fuck, that's bad. She must have been strong.

[Finding him like that, and not letting it drag her down along with him.]

I'll tell you if she forgives you. Don't get your hopes up. If she hates your guts over it, I'll tell you that too. You deserve to know, whatever it is.

[harderdaddy]

[It is bad. Angel doesn't try to pretend like it's not. He never wanted to hurt his sister like that, but there's no question now his actions would've hurt more than just himself.]

She always was.

[Hadn't let herself get dragged into the muck along with the rest of them. His face twists uncomfortably, not eager to hear if she didn't, but he nods. It's only fair.]

...if she don' know all ready, can ya avoid tellin' her what I do down here?

[absolutest]

[Lute's lips curl downwards as she considers this. It seems such an obvious fact to her, common knowledge, but most residents of Heaven aren't like her. They never visit Hell, they have no reason to know what anyone down there is doing. Asking about friends or relatives among the damned isn't exactly encouraged.

But she's come this far. She's done this much for him.]

She might know already.

[There's always the possibility.]

If she doesn't, I won't mention it. To avoid upsetting her. What do I say if she asks?

[harderdaddy]

[He nods, and it's probably the first time Angel's let himself look...ashamed about the topic of his work.]

If she don' know and she asks...just say I'm an actor like I always wanted.

[He thinks she'd like believing that.]