Beside the Still Waters (Locked to the_rebel_son)

[tryingitall]

The river is wide and placid, water a deep greenish-brown from a distance, clearer the closer you get, with patches of whitewater toward the center. The rocks Balthazar has set them on are a small island, more than enough space to house dozens of sunbathers, and surrounded by water weeds on all sides. There are chalk drawings on one of the boulders. Looks like a crude mermaid, a few birds, and several games of tic-tac-toe.

Balthazar looks around to make sure they're alone, and then takes Lucifer's hand and holds it against his chest, looking up into his face. "This should be safer."

His wings are still flared, in that quantum state that hides them from human eyes, but visible to Lucifer once more. If anything, they look slightly fluffier. That's either a response to the energy or some kind of semi-physical reaction to arousal. He's blushing a little, too.

Comments

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer didn't think Beethoven was taken to heaven. After the deafness and madness under cries that God was inflicting it, he suspected his soul was locked away somewhere. Lucifer had searched for it, ocassionally. He had resolved to turn his soul into an angel, if the composer had wanted. That would be an affront to God, not that Lucifer would care.

He curled into the angel's presence like someone might climb into a lap to cry.

"Did he convert or remain an athiest?" Lucifer was genuinely curious about Balthazar's vessel.

Lucifer stared at the drawings making note that these were something he would work on, make indestructible, when he warded the place against fire at some point.

Sympathy was all he could feel for the vessel, and in this moment Lucifer was more susceptible to those feelings than usual. He knew what it was like to love that kind of beauty and lose it, though he suspected that old age and illness might not at play in this situation.

A few moments of silence passed before Lucifer turned, wrapped his arms around Balthazar and kissed him. So many things drove him to that kiss; passion, love, fear of loss, and the intimacy he attached to Balthazar sharing this artwork with him.

[tryingitall]

"Neither, I don't think," he says with a little snort. "Like I said, I couldn't help much. I told him the truth. I never once spoke with our Father. I couldn't exactly guarantee He existed. But I told him about my brothers. He believes in angels."

His hands drop to his sides. "I'm not sure he should, some days, honestly, but what else do we have but to make do with what's in front of us? Maybe he's the smarter one. I honored his love and his grief, and that's...why he said yes to me. Sometimes the big picture is much too big."

He turns at the same moment Lucifer does, as if he senses the flicker of intent, the upwelling of emotion, and he sinks into the kiss without hesitation.

[the_rebel_son]

"My wings will cause him less problems, at least." Lucifer had been concerned that who he was might cause an issue if Levi woke up. It was helpful to know the mindset just in case. "I would not want him, anyone, to follow the Father I have."

Lucifer needed the closeness. He broke the kiss and whispered. "Thank you."

Something about sharing the history of his vessel felt important, intimate, and an act of respect. He held the angel feeling overwhelmed again but coming around more quickly than he had earlier.

[tryingitall]

"Oh, I'd hate for him to be injured by looking at you," Balthazar huffs a sigh. "I'm glad you can temper your appearance somewhat. Our archangels never did learn the knack. They can't even talk quietly enough not to kill people unless they're in a vessel. And their vessels don't hold up well."

"I wonder what that says about my world. I don't think it's power so much as finesse."

Balthazar is happy to linger in the kiss for as long as it's wanted, opening himself up to the softer feelings, meeting tenderness with tenderness. When it breaks, he nudges his forehead against Lucifer's lightly and smiles, eyes closed.

"I don't actually need sleep, and neither do you I imagine," he murmurs, "but come lie in bed with me? I'll play the radio and we can just...be."

Normally he'd suggest combining this proposal with drinks but he doesn't actually want liquor right now. Just this. He backs out of the studio and leads Lucifer into the master bedroom, which...really does live up to its name. Balthazar's style of decor favors clean lines and high contrast colors--sable on white, black and burgundy and flashes of champagne-gold--but all the fabrics, including the thick area rug, are sinfully soft. His sheets are silk, the duvet is velvet, and there are cashmere and angora throws available for good measure, probably because the bed is a massive california-style king bed with sturdy oak head and footboards.

The radio on the dresser cuts on as he walks past; evidently he can operate it telekinetically.

[the_rebel_son]

"Subduing presence is common in my creation. Michael and Moloch are exceptions. They do not seem to care. Most of the Heavenly angels can hide thier wings but the Fallen usually cannot." Lucifer was sure Michael refused restraint because he was a horrible being clothed in a mantle of falsehood. Moloch was worse in some ways, maybe if only because Lucifer couldn't be rid of him.

Lucifer nuzzled against Balthazar's forehead. The gentleness was something he had missed. "I do not need to unless I am healing."

He follows the other angel's lead and feels the same. Even his lust is subdued which is rare. He's craving closeness and peace. This is the kind of bedroom he expected from the angel, soft, sensual, warm colors. Lucifer did appreciate comfort.

He stretched his wings, as much as the room will allow. "Dressed or undressed?"

He asks running his hand over the wood of the footboard.

[tryingitall]

"Haven't met Moloch," he says. "I think he's a Canaanite god, not one of my family. Between you and me, though, our Michael is a great big bag of dicks."

Figuratively speaking, that is. There's a flare of something in Balthazar's Grace that Lucifer can no doubt feel. Something personal. He judges it's better not to discuss such things when they can curl up together and feel good instead, though.

It being the Nexus, the radio is playing some kind of romantic ballad from an alien planet. It's soft and sweet but with a touch of electronica in the backbeat. "Ohh...undressed, I think," Balthazar murmurs, and more or less shakes off his own clothing, letting it dissolve and reform as it hits the floor. "I got nice sheets so I could enjoy the way they feel on my skin, after all."

[the_rebel_son]

"You are better off if you never do." Lucifer sighed. "In my creation he's a fallen archangel who they should have strapped with the sin of Pride instead of me." There's anger in Lucifer's presence and disdain as he talks about Moloch. Lucifer laughs at the comment about Michael.

Lucifer pulls his wings closed, shaking them out. He just imagined his clothes elsewhere, neatly piled and folded somewhere convenient before crawling into the bed. He laid on his stomach, wings arched up, waiting for Balthazar to join him.

"Are you planning on keeping me here all night?" Lucifer was teasing and happy to stay awhile longer. Hell could maintain itself for a day.

[tryingitall]

"What, there's not enough sin to go around in your world? Darling, you can't go around hoarding all the sin; people need that to get through their day. Like coffee."

He's being silly on purpose, grinning as he flops lightly onto the bed beside him and rolls closer until he's tucked under a wing. Oh, oh, this is perfect. It's like having a wish fulfilled before he even knew he wished it. "Bold of you to assume I'm planning that far ahead. Just tell me if you get restless?"

[the_rebel_son]

"Greed?" Lucifer grinned joining the silly banter. "I cannot help myself."

Lucifer rested his wing over the other angel like a canopy and stole a quick kiss when he was cuddled. "Plans can be spontaneous."

"I can stay for awhile but I do have to attend to my kingdom." He could easily stay here and not leave. It had a feeling like laying in the grass in Eden which brought a calm happiness.

[tryingitall]

Balthazar blinks up at him as if startled. "Oh, damn! That's a sin, too. That makes for a bit of a Catch-22, doesn't it?"

He returns the kiss, Grace thrumming with contentment, then tucks his head against Lucifer's shoulder. "I actually have a few errands to attend to before tomorrow. I've got a human friend who's ailing; I'm trying to bring him books and such to keep his spirits up. And I should probably check on the gallery in my own world."

"But I think I can spare a few hours for this."

[the_rebel_son]

"I am also temperance." Lucifer laughs because of all the sins and virtues that was the one Lucifer knew he was least in-line with, maybe never had it.

Lucifer nods his understanding of having duties. It made the idea of leaving easier to come to terms with. They both had things needing thier attention. Lucifer's energy had calmed to a serene quiet and got lost in whatever music was playing. New music had a way of taking hold of his attention. Absently he commented. "I do not usually listen to music, though I am very fond of music."

[tryingitall]

He kisses his cheek, arching his back a little to get in contact with the wing over him, then stretches like a cat and rests his head on his folded arms. "I'll put together a mixtape for you. Or a playlist for our sex tape."

Balthazar, please.

"Actually, never mind about the sex tape. It would just melt at the crucial moment and we'd never get to rewatch it."

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer leaned closer, letting his wings brush across the angel as he moved. His voice low and seductive."If you were not so concupiscent, I would not set things on fire." The choice of a word derived from Cupid was purposeful and too perfect to resist.

He came back to rest on his elbows, cheek leaning against his clasped hands, as he looked over at Balthazar. He was haughty and proud. "Why would I want to watch something I could be enjoying in the flesh?"

[tryingitall]

"You and your vocabulary," he purrs, amused. He's just as familiar with this word as he was with impuissant, but it's fun to tease.

Hair mussed, drowsy-eyed and golden, Balthazar is a picture of indolent contentment. "Well, some humans like that kind of thing," he tells Lucifer with a grin. "But you're right, I prefer live theatre, rather than a recording."

[the_rebel_son]

This was indulgent and Lucifer wallowed in every moment. Turning just enough to free his hand, he slid it between his wing and the angel. Hand lazily, sensually, drifting over every inch of skin he could comfortably reach. He was enamored with this angel, laying here in peace those emotions were coming to the forefront.

Lucifer fell into silence for a long time, losing himself in Balthazar's presence, before grinning. "Sacrilege should always be this decadent."

[tryingitall]

"Oh...oh." Balthazar's teasing smirk softens into a blissful smile. Touch is always nice, but the peaceful tenderness washing over him makes it even headier. This could be addictive.

Nothing really needs to be said, with this kind of intimacy hanging in the air between them. He tilts his head to kiss Lucifer's shoulder lazily once, twice, and relaxes again. "Decadent's the right word, yes. I've been lonely."

Letting his bright blue eyes blink half-open, he gives Lucifer a beatific smile. "This was an eventful first date. How am I ever going to top this?"

[the_rebel_son]

"You do not have to be lonely anymore." The words came out spontaneously, instinctively, so much so that it even caught Lucifer a bit off guard that he had spoke them. Lucifer's wing tucked tighter against the angel, hugging him. He was in free fall at this point, there was no way he could stop from falling in love with this angel. It might take time to blossom but he was too invested now to back out, not that he had any intention of stopping what was happening.

Lucifer grinned playfully."I believe I owe you an evening of cheesecake and wine from my orchards."

[tryingitall]

"Are you trying to spoil me?" He asks, pauses, then laughs. "That was a foolish question, wasn't it?"

Balthazar seems all too happy to be spoiled, honestly. He curls closer in response to the hug, resolutely pushing away any bitter emotions in favor of savoring the sweetness. This is happening very quickly, especially considering how long their lifespans are, but when you can blend both body and mind the way an angel can--and dare to do so--perhaps there's a shorter timeline on emotional attachments.

"I'd love that," he says. "Dessert, wine...maybe a movie? Some general debauchery..."

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer grinned flirtatiously. "What kind of sinner would I be if I refrained from spoiling a beautiful angel?"

Lucifer, though still frightened by his feelings, was used to being like a tempest. He never experienced anything slowly or at a reasonable intensity. Everything was at a fever pitch, and so lent itself to throwing himself headlong into situations. The intensity of his emotions and loyalty left little room for moderation.

"I will bring wine when I return." Lucifer says leaning in to the angel curled up beside him.

[tryingitall]

"I'm only the third prettiest in the garrison," he says with moderately false modesty. In point of fact he's not sure anyone ranked angels by beauty in his garrison, and he's not sure where he'd fall if they had, but he'd put Anna and Cas both ahead of him if he were doing it.

These things are subjective, anyway, though, and affection always makes a person ten times more beautiful.

He slips an arm around Lucifer's waist, beneath the wings, and closes his eyes peacefully. "Then I'll give you wine-flavored kisses until we're both drunk on it."

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer shook his head. "Only third?"

Maybe this angel was getting more beautiful over time. If that was the case, Lucifer couldn't remember. The touch caused a shiver to race over his skin.

"Your lips are better than wine." Lucifer moved and touched his lips, feather light to Balthazar's. "Unfortunate, we both have something to do soon."

[tryingitall]

Balthazar may have a kink for praise and general sweet-talk. He's blushing again, tilting his head to smile against the other angel's skin.

"I know you can't stay," he says, kisses back, and nips gently at his lower lip. "But I'll be looking forward to seeing you again soon."

[the_rebel_son]

If Balthazar had a kink for praise, Lucifer was quickly discovering he might have one for the blush that followed.

"As soon as I can, petaloúdo." Lucifer whispered before taking another brief kiss. He had to get up, though he did so slowly. If he didn't get up now, he was going to stay right here, and the angel would never get any of his errands done.