- Death and Lucifer -
Lucifer explained everything that happened from when he spoke with Kahvis to his use of "Grand finale" on the business district. Kahvis had left with their team to find out the casualties. The team stayed outside of the tavern while Lucifer and Death discussed inside.
"That's everything," Lucifer said, sitting across from Death in the tavern.
Death gave a judgemental stare. His displeasure with Lucifer's actions was only barely outweighed by his relief that his friend is okay. He felt caught in-between two lines of thinking: yelling at Lucifer for his recklessness and cautioning him to be more careful. He decided on the latter.
"You started a war because of an unknown you just met, nearly killed yourself by flying straight into an explosive barrage, and you think that's it for your explanation?" Death reprimanded.
"We won, I lived, so don't act high-and-mighty with me." Lucifer rolled his eyes.
The response was harsh, childish even. Lucifer knew he was being rude, he knew Death would have been worrying about him, yet he couldn't help himself. A goal of his had actually been achieved leading to him feeling overconfident. He stared past Death, sighing from the thought of what he was about to say.
"This place should have been destroyed long ago. I begged you if you remember?" Lucifer's eyes narrowed with the rhetorical question. "I got swept up in my emotions, but things worked out."
"Things worked out?" Death's tone got cold. "How many humans have we both spoken to in our respective realms that have thought like that?"
The question was a fair one. Purgatory and Hell had more than enough examples of results-oriented thinking leading to casualties. Especially in Lucifer's case where he often processes foolish leaders who threw the lives of their soldiers away because of a similar mindset. Lucifer paused for a moment, he wanted to shift focus.
"Not the same." Lucifer shook his head. "This isn't about me or my decision making, this is about the unknown. Their name is Kahvis in case you didn't hear."
Death tapped his index finger against the table. The obvious attempt to change the subject was at best annoying, and at worst insulting. He knew Lucifer well-enough to know his point had come across. He decided he didn't want this argument leading to another fight and played along.
"You clearly trust them. I can't fault you for that after everything that's happened." Death's tapping got stronger. "However, we have a war on our hands now."
Lucifer looked at Death's finger hitting against the table, well-aware of what it meant in regards to his mood.
'I can't talk to you the same way I would others. I could fight a hundred underground battles and I still wouldn't be anywhere close to your history. Can't bring that up either or it loops us back around to "bias" again.' Lucifer thought.
"A war with Moloch and Baal." Lucifer rubbed the back of his neck. "I know I'm coming off the high of victory, but I think this is a great opportunity for us."
Death stopped tapping his finger and crossed his arms. His judging stare was now strong enough that even Lucifer found difficulties maintaining eye contact.
'Are you serious? A "high" off of victory? Getting addicted to the thrill of winning a battle is poison. Besides, you only think "we" can win because I'm here, or at least I hope that's the case.' Death thought for a moment, trying to choose what he said next carefully.
"I know you think I have a bias because of my strength, so I'm curious, do you not see the hypocrisy in this?"
Lucifer raised his eyebrows at the question.
"I know you want them dead as much as I do, if not more. What exactly did I say that's hypocritical?" Lucifer leaned in.
"Who among this makeshift army do you think will have the most important job?" Death posited. "The unknown might have every basic affinity but they aren't world-class with any of them from what you've told me."
Death unfolded his arms and started lightly scratching the top of the table.
"You're one of the best fire users in the world, but you have no self-sustain or defensive tools. Oliver and Peter have a number of limitations given that they're human."
Death started raking into the table with his fingers.
"Finally, Yvere can heal an army if and only if she stays alive on the battlefield. You don't know the true horrors of trying to protect a healer in an active war zone."
That comment sent a chill down Lucifer's spine. He had fought in plenty of battles, but he was never tasked with defending healers. He was either on the front line, or the healer didn't need protecting. Lucifer contemplated defensive strategies while continuing to listen to Death.
"I am the only one here who could maybe fight ONE army on their own. Even then I would have to use magic which makes assisting me far too dangerous." Death stood up.
The rant had started as a lesson in not letting victory trick one into believing themselves invincible but had now turned into something more personal for Death.
"My strength makes me biased, yet is relied upon? I'm passive, yet also the only real means with which to win a war? What do you want from me? A hunter or a guide? A monster or a leader?"
Lucifer had listened patiently, knowing that Death's stress came from the same place as his own. He couldn't deny that he had taken his friend's strength for granted.
"I'm sorry." Lucifer's tone was genuine. "I know you have more to worry about than me. Still-" He stood up. "-we have an actual chance here to make progress."
Lucifer looked over at the door that led to the Underground. He wasn't sure if he should press this issue further after hearing Death refer to himself as a "monster". The term was rarely used, even more so when it came to self-referencing. He resolved himself, thinking it was for the best that this conversation starts to finish.
"I'm not asking you to fight, or telling you it's your obligation, just that I'm staying."
Death wasn't surprised. What would he do in Lucifer's position? A pointless question that was easily answered by his past.
'You just fought the entirety of the Underground with some group you never met, of course you're going to fight in the follow-up conflict.'
"Don't throw your life away because you believe it's less valuable than mine." Death pleaded.
"It is though." Lucifer didn't hesitate to say. "I don't feel insulted to admit it, it's just the truth. You die and humanity could fall. I die, then Satan runs Hell by himself again."
The silence was awkward for the two. Death wanted to argue knowing that it was pointless. Lucifer expected Death to keep trying to convince him.
"What now?" Lucifer broke the silence, feeling his echo receiving a call. "Who is this?"
"You're favorite demon lord!" Satan's voice was a mixture of laughter and seriousness.
Lucifer sat back down and put the echo on the table. He rubbed his face with both hands before exhaling a gigantic sigh.
"The fuck do you want?" Lucifer impatiently asked.
"So-" Satan was chewing on food as he spoke. "you know the non-aggression pact between me and the other not-as-good demon lords? Turns out Moloch and Baal are trying to breach that by attempting to recruit me."
"What are you doing?!" A deep rumbling voice shouted.
"Is Baal there with you right now." Death asked with restrained fury.
"Course not, calm down." Satan kept eating. "I have the two sore losers on another echo call. Figured you might want to talk to them."
The sound of something heavy hitting the ground came through the echo. It was a loud thump like someone large jumping out of a chair.
"I'll be back in a few, gonna get more food. Have fun!" Satan laughed.
"I told you asking him to join was a terrible idea." Moloch jabbed with his raspy voice.
"He's still the true demon lord, so it was worth the attempt," Baal grunted. "Reaper we need to speak about what you've done." His tone was almost petulant.
Lucifer put his hand up to Death trying to signal him "stay calm" while one of Death's eyes started to go black. Death leaned into the echo.
"What I've done?" Death's voice had no emotion. "You mean the enslavement and torture of other races? Or are you talking about sending my army into a non-combat zone?"
"You want your precious humans to survive so badly then this isn't the right move. I suggest you stay out of our way while we make an example of this unknown." Baal defiantly informed.
Death stood up and threw his chair into a tavern wall. His face started to shroud in smoke.
["Listen to me you festering wound. You live because of sheer luck, not the merit of your strength.]
Lucifer whistled at the outburst.
"Hey, Moloch what's it like having a fool for an ally?" Lucifer chuckled.
"What's it like caring for things that are so easily broken?" Moloch responded in a mocking tone. "You must really miss that poor reborn to think yourself worthy of speaking in this meeting. This isn't your spawning pit Prince, watch your tone."
Lucifer normally would have bantered if not for Death's figure before him. He instead decided to go for something more personal.
"I look forward to mounting your head in Hell next to Garuuk's. Well, what's left of the head after I painted the ground with it."
"Prince I think you should leave your master and us to discuss." Baal was furious. "Stop pretending to be your father." He mocked.
Death slammed his hands through the table. Lucifer grabbed the echoes before they fell.
["What exactly do you want to discuss? I'm not leaving Passage. You, your armies, your land, all of it will disappear."]
"I can't wait to finally meet you on the battlefield, Reaper," Moloch said.
"I'm back by the way," Satan said. "Actually been here for a while, but this was too entertaining to interrupt."
"We're done here," Baal said.
"They ended the call. Welp, s'been fun, talk to you guys later." Satan ended the call.
Death and Lucifer just stared at each other for a moment. Death returned to normal while Lucifer handed him his echo.
"I think you should break one of Satan's horn every year, make a holiday of it." Lucifer joked, hiding his frustration.
"How do you work with him?" Death asked.
"He's tolerable when it comes to working," Lucifer said. "You've known him longer, why is he like that?"
Death got a similar blank look to when Lucifer asked him about magic inconsistencies.
"Excruciatingly long story."
"If ya two are done the unknown's here," Peter said as he walked in.
"Go with them while I handle this." Death said to Lucifer.
- Satan -
"I told you it would work. The man's mental strength is nowhere near his physical." Satan spoke into his echo.
"You're sure he'll stay in Passage?" Baal asked.
"Positive. If he's using the ancient language he's at a do-something-reckless level of furious." Satan smiled.
"I was surprised when you called. I'm glad to see you haven't forgotten your demonic roots." Moloch said.
"I know you two wouldn't trust me enough to make the first move," Satan said. "I think it's time my part of the world changes, and removing those two is the first step."
"We look forward to your assistance in the coming war, lord Satan." Baal and Moloch both said.
Satan ended the call and laughed maniacally.