suiting | voicemail.

I'm sorry, what was that?

Meg can defend her own honor, believe me, but if you're trying to bait her by insulting me, I just have to laugh.

[Except he's not laughing. He's smiling--the sort of smile he had before he last went on a methodical killing spree.]

I thought Michael would have taught you how to evaluate risk.

[There's a bit of blank staring -- careful compartmentalization, because tiny angels always have that deep-seated fear of the bigger ones, but he's almost too incredulous to be afraid.]

You are actually going to bother with this?

[Yup, definitely incredulous.]

I am not insulting you -- I thought you better than to lower yourself to the petulant demands of demons.

Can she not defend her own actions or must she call upon you to do so for her?

She didn't call me. You can fight with her all you want, brother. [This was really just a wonderful excuse to talk to Inias again--Lucifer hasn't found one in weeks.]

And I think all of us know you weren't saying much about their- situation that I wasn't thinking when I caught them. It's strange, isn't it, being of the same mind as me?

[ -- oh.

Inias had been expecting something entirely different, and it shows in his confusion -- the slight furrowing of his brow, and he frowns slightly.]

... It is.

[Inias doesn't find much harm in admitting that.]

But I find you will see that much of our species would be in agreement.

I know. I didn't exactly create demons to make everyone back home proud. But you and Castiel...you're not quite like the rest of our family.

[Gabriel is even further from the soldier ideal, but he hasn't heard what Gabriel's opinion is. He doesn't really want to ask, since Gabriel's opinion won't change Lucifer's anyway.]

That would be our goal.

[It's said a bit stiffly.

They hadn't rebelled and launched a civil war for Family Fun Time.]

Yeah, well, you're not the first to set that goal. [Smiiirk]

How's it going, by the way? These schemes of yours?

Do not compare our goals, Lucifer.

[Attempting to save Heaven and leaving Heaven because he didn't like that God loved humanity is not the same thing you massive child.]

And I have no such "schemes" here.

[Inias is quite retired from being a soldier in Adstringendum, thank you.]

Do you have any idea what my goals actually were, or are you just relying on the bitter stories Michael handed down?

My allegiance is not to Michael, nor is it to Raphael, or any of the rest of you.

[A bit miffed, because Inias doesn't appreciate being told he's a mindless drone, thank you.]

You both were going to destroy the world and our home -- neither of you are blameless.

I didn't want to destroy Heaven. Or earth. I would have, to bring God around.... But I love the earth, Inias. It's God's last perfect creation.

You want to know a secret? And you can go ahead and ask Castiel or Gabriel...I didn't even want to fight Michael. My plan involved talking him out of it. [A small pause, because he has to fight a wince, a bitter twist of his mouth.] But apparently he didn't listen.

[Silence.]

Do you expect that to absolve you of your sins? Or he of his?

[it's quiet.]

There is no taking back the things I've done. [And Lucifer wouldn't, even if he could. They both know that.]

But I want to move forward, Inias. I don't want to see our family like this.

What do you expect of me?

[Inias' tone is still quiet, because he's not normally an argumentative or harsh soul, but there's definitely an ounce of backbone in the question.]

I can extend forgiveness to those that work towards earning penance, but I cannot forget what you have done to our family.

[Or Naomi to their family, or Michael to their family -- or really, any of them to their family, Inias included. He holds his own fair share of blame for what's happened, simply for blindly following Castiel without having the spine to tell him what he was doing was wrong.]

There is no fixing it anymore.

[He thinks about that, really takes it in and chews it over, before he answers.]

You're right. There's no fixing it. Especially since 'fixing' would mean going back to the golden years...and I don't think any of us wants that anymore. Right?

I would rather be dead than brainwashed by Naomi.

[It's said quietly, but Inias means every word.]

So -- you are correct in saying that few of us would wish to return to Michael's reign of power, if that is the cost of supposed peace.

I thought Michael was the only one brainwashing anyone. [This is something he spoke briefly with Castiel about, but it wasn't an easy subject.] How deep does that corruption go? How many of those in power support it?

You may ask Naomi for full details on her memory wiping lobotomies.

[Inias is generally not okay with sharing information to Lucifer, but if Lucifer and Naomi kill each other, well, all's the better for their family, as far as he's concerned.]

I am afraid I do not have enough detail to ease your curiosity on the matter, as Naomi presumably removed most of it.

[He scoffs a little. Sure, he'll ask her. And he's sure he'll ~~be forced to~~ get to use 'enhanced interrogation' methods on her. Which will probably thrill Castiel and Inias, now that he thinks of it.]

Do you have a guess as to how many of you have had your minds tampered with?

All who have a known record of disobedience.

[so

basically everyone on Team Castiel]

You mean, anyone who enjoys thinking for themselves? ...Figures.

How did you figure out what Naomi was doing?

[Hrm.

To tell the truth or not tell the truth.]

A number of us managed to break her control.

[That is true, without naming names.]

[Good call. Don't lie to your brother, Inias, it makes him mad.

This, though, makes him happy--and clearly relieved.]

Are they safe?

Most are dead.

Castiel, it seems, is still alive for the time being.

He's good at survival. Probably better than we are--I'm just not sure it's a good thing for him.

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