[Francis is always easier when people are sweet with him, and he softens a little when Lucifer calls him darling. But he's still agitated, on edge, and he steps in a little closer, stands almost too close because he always pushes lines. Even with the Devil.]
What were you trying to prove? It was a deal he made in bad faith.
[Lucifer calls him on his concern and Francis frowns, looking up to meet his eyes. He doesn't answer the question directly, but it's there anyway: yes he is that worried.]
It's not- [His voice quiets, soft like secrets in the dark.] I'm sure you can put it back together, and I'm not afraid of things being hard... But they wanted to take it all away. And you had to know they'd try something like this.
That's what I don't understand.
[Losing this place, this stability even for what it cost? That was what worried him.]
I had a point to prove. It was never going to end with them taking anything away.
[He steps closer when Francis does, expression all sympathy and warmth. It seems like it would be more effective route than anything else. Reaching out, he places a hand on his shoulder.]
Nothing down here is as simple as blowing it all up, Francis. I can promise you that.
[That seems to take some of the edge off of his ire, and contact, well- it always gets to him, even simple things like the way Lucifer's fingers curl against his shoulder. He reaches out, but his fingers hesitate for a moment before closing the distance, touching against his chest as he looks up at him, holding on.]
You promise? They can't take this away?
[And he knows it's obvious and it makes his lips thin at the fact of being this exposed. But he wants to hear him say it. Sure he'd been told not to trust him- but it was still better than nothing. Some piece of comfort when pieces were too familiar, and there was that concern there-- Francis knew better than most what it was like to lose a world.
[Francis can't help leaning into the touch, the contact of his hand against his face. Francis is always easy for attention and affection. Especially from anyone that functions as any sort of authority.
The question is harder, but he answers anyway, looking up at him with a curl of his lips that's almost warm as he nods slowly, his voice hushed when he speaks.]
Yes.
[His fingers curl, and he leans in a little closer, a little uneasy with admitting to it, like he knows that he's probably not supposed to feel the way that he does about Penance, but--]
I- want to stay. Not that I think it's soft, but it's worth it.
[So there's a certain sort of relief there, like it eases the tension to know that this place will stay. That even with the way the fall out of the explosion rubs raw against his nerves, it's still maybe the most stability he's ever had. If it was anyone other than Lucifer, who he rather suspects knows most of his secrets already, he probably wouldn't have said anything else. But instead...]
I've felt- seen it all end. The way the light goes out of the world as the very threads of it come apart, reality collides into reality and the blood and screaming. That's horror. Inescapable ruin. This place is- punishment. Some people don't seem to grasp the difference.
[There's something to the way he says punishment, because Fran is broken in so many wrong ways. He sort of likes suffering, likes the penance for everyone he failed.]
Few would say that. Few have said that to me, as a matter of fact.
[He could count them on a single hand, probably. Still, he doesn't seem to be trying to make the other feel bad for it, or think him any less for the confession. There's a twitch and a warmth to Lucifer's expression as he draws him in closer.]
Stop worrying. Everything is fine-- hell can never truly be destroyed, not like that. This was a foolish man who decided to destroy his own home for the foreseeable future, hardly anything more.
Well, some of them don't seem to appreciate this place.
[Or maybe Francis' experiences were a bit worse than normal, enough that he thought of this piece of Hell as a refuge. Either way, he was rather attached to it, and there's a soft sigh as the man draws him close. His fingers curling against him on reflex, that way Francis always clung to touch, devoured every shred of affection.
But his lips curl into a soft smile at the reassurance. The words matter, after all. Knowing that this place is safe for the foreseeable future, that Spike, or someone like him, can't take this place away from Francis no matter what they do. They'll rebuild now. Maybe they'll have to rebuild again later. That, he can handle. ]
Thank you. I'm trying my best. It'll be better after the repairs are further along, I think.
It shows. I can tell, even if some of them don't pay attention.
[He means it, too. Something genuine to his voice as he leans into him. When it comes to affection he absolutely is vulnerable to it, and he generally doesn't even bother hiding it. He likes touch, likes being touched, that feeling of warmth on his skin.]
You're probably right. [He almost turns away then, but then there's an after thought, a pause of hesitation.]
But-- [He starts to say something and then pauses, like he knows he'll regret asking, but can't quite help himself. He doesn't bother with any of the defenses he might have with someone else.] Dodger isn't going to be in trouble, is he?
[He'd deserve it, of course, but Fran doesn't want to see him hurt if he can help it. If Dodger didn't punish himself on such a continuous basis it might be easier to ignore. Or if he wasn't falling in love with him.]
[Francis nods slowly. It's- good enough. He knows that Dodger is prone to making bad choices, so it's not even like he could blame Lucifer for it. But also, the fact that Spike is getting punished for it soothes some portion of his irritation with everything that had happened and how it made him feel.
He shakes his head, sighs a little in honest agreement.]
It was definitely a wasted opportunity when you gave him quite a unique chance. Not how I would have used it. But Spike and I have rather different goals, I think.
[Fran would never have made that sort of deal just as an excuse for petty destruction in the first place, of course. Had no interest in needing a way to ruin things for other people just because he couldn't stand the idea of playing along. It was childish, really.]
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What were you trying to prove? It was a deal he made in bad faith.
[Lucifer calls him on his concern and Francis frowns, looking up to meet his eyes. He doesn't answer the question directly, but it's there anyway: yes he is that worried.]
It's not- [His voice quiets, soft like secrets in the dark.] I'm sure you can put it back together, and I'm not afraid of things being hard... But they wanted to take it all away. And you had to know they'd try something like this.
That's what I don't understand.
[Losing this place, this stability even for what it cost? That was what worried him.]
no subject
[He steps closer when Francis does, expression all sympathy and warmth. It seems like it would be more effective route than anything else. Reaching out, he places a hand on his shoulder.]
Nothing down here is as simple as blowing it all up, Francis. I can promise you that.
no subject
You promise? They can't take this away?
[And he knows it's obvious and it makes his lips thin at the fact of being this exposed. But he wants to hear him say it. Sure he'd been told not to trust him- but it was still better than nothing. Some piece of comfort when pieces were too familiar, and there was that concern there-- Francis knew better than most what it was like to lose a world.
So maybe he's a little demanding.]
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You would miss it, wouldn't you?
[It's an odd realization. So many of the sinners here only desire to get out...]
They won't take it away, darling. You can't destroy Hell, not in the way they want.
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The question is harder, but he answers anyway, looking up at him with a curl of his lips that's almost warm as he nods slowly, his voice hushed when he speaks.]
Yes.
[His fingers curl, and he leans in a little closer, a little uneasy with admitting to it, like he knows that he's probably not supposed to feel the way that he does about Penance, but--]
I- want to stay. Not that I think it's soft, but it's worth it.
[So there's a certain sort of relief there, like it eases the tension to know that this place will stay. That even with the way the fall out of the explosion rubs raw against his nerves, it's still maybe the most stability he's ever had. If it was anyone other than Lucifer, who he rather suspects knows most of his secrets already, he probably wouldn't have said anything else. But instead...]
I've felt- seen it all end. The way the light goes out of the world as the very threads of it come apart, reality collides into reality and the blood and screaming. That's horror. Inescapable ruin. This place is- punishment. Some people don't seem to grasp the difference.
[There's something to the way he says punishment, because Fran is broken in so many wrong ways. He sort of likes suffering, likes the penance for everyone he failed.]
no subject
[He could count them on a single hand, probably. Still, he doesn't seem to be trying to make the other feel bad for it, or think him any less for the confession. There's a twitch and a warmth to Lucifer's expression as he draws him in closer.]
Stop worrying. Everything is fine-- hell can never truly be destroyed, not like that. This was a foolish man who decided to destroy his own home for the foreseeable future, hardly anything more.
no subject
[Or maybe Francis' experiences were a bit worse than normal, enough that he thought of this piece of Hell as a refuge. Either way, he was rather attached to it, and there's a soft sigh as the man draws him close. His fingers curling against him on reflex, that way Francis always clung to touch, devoured every shred of affection.
But his lips curl into a soft smile at the reassurance. The words matter, after all. Knowing that this place is safe for the foreseeable future, that Spike, or someone like him, can't take this place away from Francis no matter what they do. They'll rebuild now. Maybe they'll have to rebuild again later. That, he can handle. ]
Thank you. I'm trying my best. It'll be better after the repairs are further along, I think.
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[Francis seems rather pliable with affection, honestly. Something Lucifer files away as the younger man smiles up at him.]
You should rest for now. You seem like you've been worrying yourself to death after all.
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[He means it, too. Something genuine to his voice as he leans into him. When it comes to affection he absolutely is vulnerable to it, and he generally doesn't even bother hiding it. He likes touch, likes being touched, that feeling of warmth on his skin.]
You're probably right. [He almost turns away then, but then there's an after thought, a pause of hesitation.]
But-- [He starts to say something and then pauses, like he knows he'll regret asking, but can't quite help himself. He doesn't bother with any of the defenses he might have with someone else.] Dodger isn't going to be in trouble, is he?
[He'd deserve it, of course, but Fran doesn't want to see him hurt if he can help it. If Dodger didn't punish himself on such a continuous basis it might be easier to ignore. Or if he wasn't falling in love with him.]
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[His expression turns to a bit of a sneer.]
Can you imagine? Being the king of Hell for a day and choosing to destroy your home than learn anything from it?
[It's frustrating, if he's honest.]
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He shakes his head, sighs a little in honest agreement.]
It was definitely a wasted opportunity when you gave him quite a unique chance. Not how I would have used it. But Spike and I have rather different goals, I think.
[Fran would never have made that sort of deal just as an excuse for petty destruction in the first place, of course. Had no interest in needing a way to ruin things for other people just because he couldn't stand the idea of playing along. It was childish, really.]
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[He seems to be a bit more relaxed, at the very least. Lucifer tilts his head curiously.]
You don't have to worry any longer. You'll be under my care either way.