suiting | voicemail.

[There's a slight pause.]

Is this still to do with Sam?

[A little uncertainly.

He's really bad at feelings. 8(]

Yeah. Sort of. Not about... what we talked about though.

[ That's pretty much old news now. She got rejected and is getting over it. ]

I just. I messed up, Inias. I don't know how to make it right or if I can.

Few things in this world are unforgivable.

[It's said quietly, though Inias doesn't really like the idea of something making Sam that angry. Sam is a Winchester, which means he's pretty stupid, but he's also uniquely forgiving. Unbelievably so, considering what he's been through. For Sam to not forgive something must mean it's pretty bad.

So -- ]

What happened?

[ In hindsight, she realizes Inias might be upset with her for this too. Wow. She really did screw up. ]

I - talked to Lucifer. After Sam told me not to.

I didn't think... it was a big deal. But that was the whole problem, I guess. I didn't think. I just did what I wanted to. [ Because she sucks at being a friend and realizing her actions could hurt others. That putting herself in danger is a bad thing. ] So, I talked to him. Even met up with him once. And Sam found out.

[ As she says it, she fights back the urge to cry because it's... ridiculous. She shouldn't. This was probably stupid enough without her throwing in tears. ]

[ . . . ah.

Inias is quiet for quite the long time, and though he's not openly angry, he does appear to be slightly disheartened. Lucifer is dangerous -- and while he's not furious or personally hurt by Rose's decision, he can understand why Sam would be.

But then, oh no, tears, and Inias opens his mouth to say something before closing it, reconsidering his plan of consolation.]

...Lucifer is a large part of why my family is no longer such.

[It's said quietly.]

And he has done... many terrible things to Sam. His reaction may seem cruel, but it is understandable, if you knew what happened within our world.

[ It's the silence that reaffirms her mistake; the quiet that does bring her tears no matter how silly they feel. Rose tries hard to hide it ( really, she's that idiotic ) by dropping her gaze to her feet. ]

I know. I mean - I knew. I knew a little of what he'd done. That's what made it even worse.

[ She'd even told Lucifer himself that seeing him would hurt them. She'd realized, in a way, that what she was doing was wrong but couldn't figure out a way to stop it. Just like everything else. She gets herself into these situations and has no idea what to do because she doesn't know how to ask for help.

The gravity of the situation wasn't clear though until Sam's anger and Inias' possible disappointment in her. She'd ruined everything. Or at least it felt like she had right now. ]

I'm so sorry.

[Oh no.

Tears are something a little foreign to angels, because they rarely have need to cry. Emotion is something so... ridiculously abstract to their species, it's difficult to really place it. And Inias has been on the verge of crying once or twice in his existence, and has cried in Adstringendum once, but it's still... well, sort of terrifying.

Still, it causes him to soften almost instantly, and he sighs slightly before patting his pockets down slightly to locate a handkerchief -- something leftover from his vessel, but clean and soft, and he lifts her chin with a few fingers, gently wiping away a stray tear before handing it to her to do herself with a faint smile.]

To err is to be human, correct?

[Quietly.]

To believe Lucifer's words is no less strange than the sky being blue.

[And Inias lets out a soft sigh before dropping his hands to his sides again, looking briefly... well, tired.]

That is, after all, what he is good at.

[ Rose's kind are also a little lacking in the emotion department. She had never been ( fortunately or unfortunately, she still isn't sure ) but she can relate to it all being a terrifying sort of thing. Crying, especially in front of others, isn't something she does often but with all that's happened lately it's practically unavoidable.

Inias' action almost causes her to cry more but in a good way. Sort of. She doesn't deserve such kindness and understanding after all she's done so it's a bit overwhelming to receive. After a few loud sniffles and wiping of her eyes, she seems to calm down just a bit. At least she's coherent. ]

I - yeah.

He was just... I don't know. So convincing. So sure. It made me believe him, too.

[ Even now, she's not certain she doesn't believe him. It's likely just to make her more vulnerable, susceptible but she still can't shake the things he said so easily. ]

Is that stupid of me?

No.

[Said in a soft exhale, slipping his hands into the pockets of his suit jacket with a slight shake of his hand.]

There are not many pieces of the Christian Bible that are accurate, but the story of Lucifer bewitching humankind and creating sin -- creating demons, those are all true. He is a master in deception and makes himself appear extraordinarily sympathetic. And I am sure he will do so to all of Sam's acquaintances and friends for however long he is within this city, simply to make him miserable.

[Castiel included, as Inias knows.]

Yeah, no kidding.

[ So she's feeling good enough to try and be sarcastic. That's a good thing, at least. Maybe. ]

I, uhm. I don't know if Sam'll forgive me for this though.

[ Oh, wait. The water works threaten to start again at the thought of Sam and how he'd just left her alone after reprimanding her for what she'd done. How that was it and she had no idea what it meant. ]

Not that I can blame him. I mean, I'm... I'm surprised you and Cas have been so nice about it all. You probably shouldn't be.

[Inias shrugs -- the movement a little awkward and a little belated, but still there.]

Castiel and I have a different perspective of Lucifer than Sam -- perhaps a kinder one, as unbelievable as that may sound.

[He pauses.]

You cannot choose your family.

No, you can't.

[ Rose recalls her father, her pack, and how she's a lot more forgiving towards her own kind than others and knows it. ]

I just hope he can forgive me, too. Anyone else I may have hurt.

[ She pauses then to try and compose herself. ]

Thank you, Inias. Again. For everything.

[ HOPE YOU'RE OKAY WITH A HUG, ANGEL FRIEND, BECAUSE YOU'RE TOTALLY GETTING ONE. ]

[He's about to say 'you're welcome' and ask if she needs anything else, but then she's hugging him. And while Inias is generally less shy about people tugging on him or holding his hand or whatever than most of his siblings, he tenses just a bit.

People getting too close to him in Adstringendum has never ended well, after all.

But he gets over it rather quickly, relaxing in a breath before he tentatively hugs her in return, mindful of his strength. Crushing her spine on accident would probably ruin the effect.]

I believe he will, in time.

[Quietly.]

And if it is any consolation, I forgive you.

[ It doesn't seem to end well for anyone, really. That doesn't mean she isn't going to go for it anyway.

A broken spine would be just a bit of a bummer so she'd be grateful for his conscious effort if she knew. As it is, she's blissfully unaware and even gives him a little squeeze before pulling away again. ]

Even if he doesn't, I can't... really say anything, I guess.

[ She done messed up, after all. ]

But thank you. That means a lot.

I could speak to him, if you wish.

[Inias isn't entirely sure how much good it would do -- Sam and Inias get along relatively well most of the time, but Lucifer is an entirely different ballgame than their usual topics of conversation.]

He may just require time to think.

No.

[ It's a bit more sudden and sharp than she intends but at least it gets the message across. No, this was... This was her fault, too. It was something she'd have to deal with even if she had no idea how to. She'd figured something out. ]

I don't... want to upset any more than I have. He needs time, you're right, but it's also just best if I'm not in the picture at all for a while.

[He's a little put off by the sharpness of her tone, but frowns quietly at her point, and simply nods. It's up to her, after all. He really has no business in any of this save to just listen when needed.]

If you are sure.

[ She's not. ]

I... Yeah, I am. I just don't want to make things worse, y'know? It's better if I just keep quiet. Stay away.

If you feel that that is best, I will not stop you from making another decision.

[but in his experience, ignoring the problem always makes it worse.]

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