Floor 2, Room 6

[lustro]

GINGER

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Comments

[lustro]

[ To me, he wants to argue. Mika had made as much of a choice as he could. ]

Not sure where you got that idea. Besides, I wasn’t in any danger, so self-preservation wasn’t needed.

[ An untruth, not a lie. The words are right, but the truth isn’t there. What happened that night was entirely selfish on his part. ]

I can protect myself, you know.

[impacter]

Just through experience.

[He leans his chin against one hand, brow raising slightly.]

What about others?

You said that was your job, as a nephilim. Protection, correct? And yet you have a strange fascination that goes beyond that. [Something off. He can't quite pinpoint it enough, and it's not as obvious as someone like Asmodeus or Mammon. But it's a start. Would that core that made a demon tick still thrive even in a being like Ginger?]

What was it you said that night?

"Only you"?

[lustro]

I can only try, right? [ He can say he wants to protect everyone, but realistically, it’ll depend on what he’s capable of in the moment. What he’s allowed. ] I do… want to protect some of you more than others.

[ Equal opportunity protection until someone important to him gets hurt. He’s pretty blatant about his favorites, and he’s not sorry about it. ]

… Only me.

[impacter]

[His finger taps against his chin, a slow and casual movement, the weight of his ring heavy against his skin.]

That's only natural. No one can prioritize everything.

You seemed so frightened to speak your mind, though. Is that not something you're proud of? Knowing what it is you want?

[lustro]

[ The smile that twists Ginger’s lips is so blatantly not one, that he doesn’t consider it fake. ]

Sure, I’m scared. But if I told you: Solomon, I only want you to think of me. Only me. For the eternity that we live.

If I told any normal person that, don’t you think they’ll run?

[impacter]

Possibly.

[Another tap of his finger.]

What if I told you that I've been asked something similar before, and that I've asked that myself?

[lustro]

[ He said normal person, SIR ]

I’m running out of this room and you can stay.

[impacter]

Hahah - you wound me!

[anyway]

All I mean is it's nothing new, dear Ginger. To be drawn so intensely to an emotion, a sin, an idea... I'd say that is perfectly normal for a demon.

You surprise me in the fact that you can even fight that part of you in the first place. I think it shows a fascinating side of you. That's all.

[lustro]

It’s because… [ Slow as he feels out the answer. ] I only feel that way about one person. Ah, no - specific people now.

I’m not - fighting. I’m… [ He opens his hand, then clenches it into a fist, one finger at a time. The end result is tight and restricting. ] Waiting.

[ Biding. ]

[impacter]

[His eyes flick to that tension, then back to Ginger.]

Hm. In that, you really seem different from him.

[Not that he would want to put Ginger through that sort of meeting.

He sits up straight with an elongated stretch of his arms over his head like a lazy cat.]

So-- mm, you plan to follow through, then? Back home, or here?

[lustro]

[ Before he answers the second question, he has to ask: ]

Who is him?

[impacter]

Asmodeus.

[Let's see if that rings a bell or not.]

[lustro]

[ It does sound familiar. He’s heard the name before - so that means… ]

Demon?

[impacter]

[He looks delighted at the recognition.]

That's the one.

[lustro]

Waaaaait a second. Is that why you feel so weird? Like a mix of -

[ Some thing - some things that are a shade off familiar. ]

Did you make a deal with a demon? I think - he might be my dad’s coworker.

[impacter]

A pact, yes.

[So Ginger could sense it after all. Good to know - maybe they could settle on a more honest playing field.]

And who would your father be, in that case? Maybe we've crossed paths.

[lustro]

Why would you?

[ Such a bad idea… ]

Doubt it. Maybe a retelling of him, or a different version, but I would know if you’d met my actual dad - and there’s no way you would have remembered. [ A beat. ] It’s Sitri.

[impacter]

Hm, well... Asmo had a lot on his mind. A pact worked best for both of us to get what we wanted.

[More or less.

Sitri, though... man it's been a while.]

Ah, him! Yes, I'm aware. [He'll even give a receipt this time, gently rolling up one of his sleeves just enough to show Sitri's seal nestled amidst many others.] I could see why he'd be with Asmo. They're very similar.

[lustro]

[ Yep, that’s his dad’s seal. And that is - so many others?? Ginger can see the ink peeking under Solomon’s sleeve where there are probably more lining his skin. ]

Oh my God, you’re psychotic.

[ He said the Lord’s name in vain, but he’s pretty sure God and Lucifer would both agree. ]

[impacter]

Hahah! Maybe!

[This is a normal response!

He doesn't hold the excited energy for more than a moment, though. The frightened look on Ginger's face is amusing, sure, but he's pushing his luck here.

He lets out a smooth exhale through the nose as he pulls his sleeve back down.]

Jokes aside, dear Ginger, I'm very aware of reality. And I don't bring it up to frighten you. [Like, hooray for intimidation, but that's besides the point.

He leans forward in his seat to rest his elbows against his knees, hands very lightly folded together as he looks at Ginger with a slightly softer expression. ]

From what little I've seen, you don't seem very comfortable in your heritage, right? Or, well, that side of it.

Why is that?

[lustro]

[ ‘Dear Ginger’… Shudders… Gross…

But he huffs and listens to the rest. Some of the phrasing has his eyes narrowing slightly; Solomon isn’t right, but he isn’t exactly wrong either. ]

It’s less to do with my heritage and more that… I… I want to be loved.

[impacter]

I don't see why you can't be. You're rather earnest.

Do you think you don't deserve it?

[The question is gentle.]

[lustro]

I want it.

[ It doesn’t matter if he deserves it or not. ]

That’s a question you ask the other party, isn’t it? They decide if I can or can’t be loved.

[impacter]

...

[Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he is more like Asmo than he imagined.]

Other people don't make that decision for you, Ginger. You can't make someone love you. And someone can't force you to feel loved.

But just because they don't, or just because you might not be sure... that doesn't mean that's a definitive for you. It doesn't mean you should stop wanting it, or that you won't have it someday.

Even the King of Hell can be loved. So why shouldn't you?

[lustro]

You really think there’s someone out there who will love me in the same obsessive way I’m bound to love them?

[ He’s always known he’d have to settle for… less. That’s the only way any love will work. He would give his everything and the other would give what they were willing. Fair trade.

He thought he was okay with the idea, resigned to it - maybe happiness would drown out his instincts calling out for more, but… ]

… What do you really want from me, Solomon? You open your mouth and say all these kind things. Your eyes go soft and you’re… sweeter.