hellslittleprince

[hellslittleprince]

a random Aster headcanon no one asked for~

There are exactly five photos in existence of Aster from his childhood, and only two of which he has access to anymore. Three are of his human form, and two are of his hound.

Among the three he doesn't have access to is the one and only picture ever taken of him as a baby, face wrinkled with sleep in a crib during a period where his hound had shifted to human and wouldn't shift back. Lucifer had been angrier than he'd been throughout the entire experiment so far, almost deeming the whole thing a failure and throwing it all to the wind, leaving the baby to whomever could be bothered to look after him. It was also in that moment, however, that Aster had wrinkled his nose in just the right way, capturing the little bit of warmth in the king's heart. And so he'd snapped the photo. It lives to this day in a file with Aster's name plastered on it, hidden deep in hell's halls.

The second was from a couple of years later. This time, it was of his hound. The photo is blurry, a mess of oversized paws and a lolling tongue, the puppy in him clear as day even as shadow curled around and distorted the photo. It was taken by Min, the King's son, on an old polaroid. No one knows where the photo went.

The third unreachable photo, however, was from much later. Another human form, it is of a 13 year old Aster, all broody frowns and wrinkled brows as he stares at the pages of a book. He doesn't even know that the photo exists - it was taken by a stranger, developed in a dark room somewhere in a city he never thought to visit again.

Of the two he does have access to, one is of his hound, the other of him as a three year old. Both were taken on the same day, and by the same person.

It wasn't often that Ash got to spend time with Aster. He was an experiment, not one of the hounds that needed caring for in Lucifer's eyes, but when Ash realised just how little Aster actually had to call his own, he made it a point to give him something. And so he'd taken the photos.

The first, was his hound form. Shadow and flame both licked at his fur, those bright eyes ever focused on something out of shot. Ash would later tell him it had been a stuffed animal, though he'd long forgotten what it was. But with his body in an arch and tail wagging, it was clear he was ready to pounce. He was all out of proportion then, his pup not quite tiny and nowhere near grown yet.

The second, taken later that day, is one of Aster's most secret possessions. Not even Wolf knows that it exists yet. In the photo, he's sat on Ash's couch, chubby toddler fingers clenched around a glass of chocolate milkshake, straw in his mouth. Eyes curled into happy crescents, and legs mid-swing. To Aster, it's like a snapshot of a life that isn't his own. It could be any child, really, were it not for the shadow still hovering at the corners, the fire still burning even through what little of his eyes were visible past his smile. Or perhaps it was the little array of freckles.

It is both bitter, and sweet, to see that photo. To know that, even briefly, he got to be a child. Even for just a day, someone cared enough to capture a memory, to get a snapshot that was proof he was more than just a weapon trained to do it's master's bidding. It shows, in just a flash of a moment, that he was a child once too.

[hellslittleprince]

ATEEZ :: LEMON DROP

[hellslittleprince]

It would always be an invitation, if Sujin took it as such. But it was also just… being close. Something he’d never known he would crave until he had it right there. Wolf had started it for him. The pup was so clingy that he’d had to get used to it, and he did so very quickly. Ended up clinging a fair bit himself. With Sujin, it was so very different and also somehow far more intense. Sometimes like he couldn’t breathe if he hadn’t seen or been close to him in too long. Unhealthy, he was sure.

But who cared about healthy choices when the man in question had such a look on his face that Aster knew he was screwed in every way?

He exhaled, knowing full well that starting with the worst was a terrible idea, even without the toy currently pressing in all the right places anytime he shifted his weight. One particular shift as he turned to glance around for Wolf had his eyelids fluttering just a little. Just a little flutter of a breath that would reveal everything for anyone looking too close. But he got himself back under control.

“Wolf might be. But only because Nix will be, and Wolf follows him everywhere when he’s not following Hajoon around.” He murmured, sniffing the air subtly for any hint of the fiery pup - or the firebird he was with, frankly. “Nix is good people too. Insane, somewhat bloodthirsty and a half phoenix, but good. He is also very much hated by everyone so we have that in common. Does that sound like a plan?” He asked, tilting his head in a silent question of whether that constituted a 6, or whether he got away with it a little longer.

Sujin would not tell Aster otherwise when that hand lingered on him. Every moment the hound’s hands were on his skin the less he felt like crawling out of it, and so he welcomed the familiar warmth without protest, sipping on his wine with a slow scan of his gaze around the room, taking in the sights, the sounds, noting that the throne sat empty while its owner mingled through the guests. The throne had always seemed a little bit much in Sujin’s opinion — the man controlled all of hell, he hardly needed some gaudy antiquated furniture to prove it.

But when Aster spoke to him of sitting on it, of looking as if he belonged there, Sujin’s gaze went distant, lost for a moment in the fantasy of it. Power beyond measure. Not a single soul daring to touch, daring to take that which they could never deserve. He felt a momentary ache for the missing part of him — the part that marked him hunted and caught and less than he once had been.

If he sat upon that throne he could make those men bleed. He could cut pieces from their bodies that would never grow back, one by one until there was nothing of them left, and even then it would not be enough to repay what had been taken from him.

Awareness of his surroundings returned to him in a rush that had him drawing in a deep breath, dark lashes fluttering as he turned his gaze up to Aster, something a little feral remaining behind the mahogany.

“It looks uncomfortable,” he protested with a crinkle of his nose, rolling a shoulder and fixing a calmer smile on his lips as they perched on the rim of his glass. “I’ll pass on hellish royalty, thanks, I’ll stick to my own chairs. Hard to beat a good recliner,” he reached up and flicked the tip of his finger flirtatiously along the underside of Aster’s chin, adding in a lower tone “or lap.”

It was not lost on him what Aster had chosen to wear tonight — it was stunning. Not just the effect of pure shadow curling and coiling about him on command, but the fact that Sujin knew what that shadow represented to the hellhound and those who knew him. It was Aster’s biggest weakness in terms of social standing. The thing that othered him from his kind. And yet, while he could have hidden it away and dressed the part, he chose to wear it openly, boldly, as if to throw it in the face of those who would speak ill of him. Sujin found the choice both admirable and incredibly attractive.

Sure, Aster’s demon powers were nothing to toy with — they were deadly dangerous and he wielded them with expert skill; it struck fear into the minds of his foes, and yet Sujin had never feared it. It had never been a violent, evil thing to him… he’d found the shadows peaceful and calming on the rare occasions they kissed across his skin. They blanketed him in protective oblivion, something he’d craved since before he could remember; a gentle nothingness.

He looked beautiful, and for a moment, just a moment, he felt that the two of them could take on this whole wretched world together — above and below.

“So, do we mingle?” he gestured to the crowd with his wine glass.

[hellslittleprince]

I know I’m notorious for disappearing but would anyone like to plot/write with Wolf?

[hellslittleprince]

Aster's shadows would never harm Sujin, that he knew. They were an extension of him, part of his heart and soul and very being, and they yearned for him, just as he did. Even now, wrapped around him, the wisps that escaped reached towards Sujin, simply because he was there. Only to be close, never to harm. If he'd had any idea of quite what the other thought of them, though, or what he thought of Aster's choice to don them as clothing today, he may very well have broken the illusion with a bright red blush.

More than that. With such thoughts as taking on the world together... Aster might very well have poured his entire heart out right on the ground for Sujin to see. For everyone to see.

But as it was, he was very much distracted by that very simple flick to his chin, his eyes warm and lingering on Sujin with such adoration it would likely get them both in trouble if he wasn't careful. And so he hummed, tearing his eyes away to look over at the furniture in question.

"It's not the prettiest chair I've ever seen, no," he snorted softly, wondering for a moment whether Lucifer was even here. The room felt heavy enough for his power to be within these walls, but it would not be the first time he didn't show his face directly at an event. Not that he was about to tell Sujin that until he knew for sure, "Though I would certainly offer up my lap for your cushioning services," a smirk of his own then, fingertips tracing lightly over bare skin as he did so.

Talk of mingling though... That nearly had him sneering. Nearly. He just about kept it under control. Mingling was his least favourite part of any of these kinds of events, but it was also important.

It was, however, also very dangerous when a certain remote control remained in Sujin's pocket. "Everyone is going to suck, you know that right?" he sighed, taking another sip of his wine as he glanced around for some of the least offensive people to mingle with, "Anyone you want to mess with most, your majesty?"

Sujin would not tell Aster otherwise when that hand lingered on him. Every moment the hound’s hands were on his skin the less he felt like crawling out of it, and so he welcomed the familiar warmth without protest, sipping on his wine with a slow scan of his gaze around the room, taking in the sights, the sounds, noting that the throne sat empty while its owner mingled through the guests. The throne had always seemed a little bit much in Sujin’s opinion — the man controlled all of hell, he hardly needed some gaudy antiquated furniture to prove it.

But when Aster spoke to him of sitting on it, of looking as if he belonged there, Sujin’s gaze went distant, lost for a moment in the fantasy of it. Power beyond measure. Not a single soul daring to touch, daring to take that which they could never deserve. He felt a momentary ache for the missing part of him — the part that marked him hunted and caught and less than he once had been.

If he sat upon that throne he could make those men bleed. He could cut pieces from their bodies that would never grow back, one by one until there was nothing of them left, and even then it would not be enough to repay what had been taken from him.

Awareness of his surroundings returned to him in a rush that had him drawing in a deep breath, dark lashes fluttering as he turned his gaze up to Aster, something a little feral remaining behind the mahogany.

“It looks uncomfortable,” he protested with a crinkle of his nose, rolling a shoulder and fixing a calmer smile on his lips as they perched on the rim of his glass. “I’ll pass on hellish royalty, thanks, I’ll stick to my own chairs. Hard to beat a good recliner,” he reached up and flicked the tip of his finger flirtatiously along the underside of Aster’s chin, adding in a lower tone “or lap.”

It was not lost on him what Aster had chosen to wear tonight — it was stunning. Not just the effect of pure shadow curling and coiling about him on command, but the fact that Sujin knew what that shadow represented to the hellhound and those who knew him. It was Aster’s biggest weakness in terms of social standing. The thing that othered him from his kind. And yet, while he could have hidden it away and dressed the part, he chose to wear it openly, boldly, as if to throw it in the face of those who would speak ill of him. Sujin found the choice both admirable and incredibly attractive.

Sure, Aster’s demon powers were nothing to toy with — they were deadly dangerous and he wielded them with expert skill; it struck fear into the minds of his foes, and yet Sujin had never feared it. It had never been a violent, evil thing to him… he’d found the shadows peaceful and calming on the rare occasions they kissed across his skin. They blanketed him in protective oblivion, something he’d craved since before he could remember; a gentle nothingness.

He looked beautiful, and for a moment, just a moment, he felt that the two of them could take on this whole wretched world together — above and below.

“So, do we mingle?” he gestured to the crowd with his wine glass.

[hellslittleprince]

Aster had and always would buy pretty things for Sujin because he thought he deserved them. This particular ensemble had been a bit of necessity for the two of them to blend in and stand out in equal parts, and it had been because he knew that it would compliment everything the other already had in such a perfect way. The fact that those chains disappearing into his pants were torturing Aster was one little detail he'd failed to consider, but who was he to deny a little torture for the sake of this man getting to look and hopefully feel his best?

In a way, both of their outfits were a power play. For Sujin, it was like showing off what others could not have. For Aster, his own outfit, or lack thereof, was about showing that he wasn't weak. Taking that part of him that all of these demons spat on, and throwing it right back in their faces. That it complimented Sujin's outfit was a minor detail... mostly.

Aster risked a press of lips to Sujin's thumb as it brushed along his bottom one, a movement so small but hard to resist.

"It's rather hard not to notice when it feels like someone is prodding at your insides..." he hummed as absently as he could make it, giving a glance towards the retreating figure, and then giving Sujin just a bit more space. He stayed close, his hand even stayed against his skin until he was told otherwise, but it was only polite not to crowd his space. "They're also all demons. Vile bunch," he grumbled, "They have to be, to be high up enough to attend one of Lucifer's events. There's a few that are very high up that are alright, but these ones... they think they're entitled to whatever they like, and throw their power around at the rest."

Another glance around, before his eyes fell back to the breathtaking view that was and always was Sujin. "But... Tonight, you look like you could be sitting right up on that throne and no one would question it, and I think they're particularly bold as a result." Yet Aster knew not a single one of them would wear a vibrator for Sujin to play with to his heart's content. So screw them.

Sujin was no stranger to being asked to wear this outfit or that — some men and women liked that kind of thing when they were paying; it made them feel in control. But Aster was different. There was nothing about control between them. Aster decked him in simple jewels like this because he thought Sujin needed little adornment to look beautiful… and maybe a little for his own enjoyment, of course, but who could blame him? And truly, Aster had hit his mark, for they both seemed to draw more than a few pairs of eyes as they stood together, giving one another significant looks and murmurs.

“Oh so you noticed…” Sujin’s expression melted into fiendish delight, eyeing the redness of Aster’s bottom lip, reaching up to trace his thumb lightly across it.

“Try not to bite through your pretty lips - I plan to put them to good use later,” he returned the comment equally low, his gaze drifting to the one who began to hover near, ready to rebuff him just as he had the other demon when he felt that protective hand go about his bare waist, sending small tingles of warmth to have Aster’s hands on his skin; it always did. The demon turned away upon seeing his hunt was more complicated than it was worth, and Sujin snorted quietly to himself.

“They really are a bold bunch, aren’t they?”

[hellslittleprince]

It was probably a good job, truly, that no one typically talked to Aster unless it was to tear him down, or flirt with Sujin while he was right there. Because lord knew, the moment that vibration started, he very nearly bit straight through his tongue.

Aster wasn't an innocent hound by any means. He'd had his experience, played with his fair share of people and toys, solo and with others. But never internally, at least so far. Toys internally, yes, but one that vibrated quite like this? That took him by surprise so royally that for a moment he could've sworn those around him knew just why he was biting his lip? It wasn't a heavy vibration just yet, he knew it would only get worse and he just about managed to keep his compsure, but the surprise of it had been enough to throw him.

The shadows wrapped around him scattered a little, and it took right up until Sujin was coming back for him to bring them back into place, and his eyes back down to a gentle simmer rather than a fire. It wasn't just the toy, either - the way Sujin had brushed off one of the demons he knew was quite heavily sought after? That had done it for him, too. Given him an odd little fluttery feeling in his stomach. And the way he looked in that outfit had certainly done it for him as well. Sujin was well and truly royalty in Aster's eyes, and the chains that fell so perfectly on his skin were only further proof of that.

Aster held a substantial amount of guilt for that night, for asking him to come and for asking him to wear something so revealing he almost felt like a creep for suggesting it. But even as that buzzing inside of him died down, the casual apology was enough to make him push all of that guilt aside, and give Sujin a look.

"Oh, is that what it was?" he asked, exhaling a moment and taking a too-generous gulp of his wine. Sparkling indeed - Lucifer had always enjoyed throwing spectacles when it came to his events, regardless of what they were for. He wasn't even sure what this one was all about, only that he was expected to attend and that he was encouraged to not show up alone. He suspected that part had more to do with people not starting fights with him more than any other reason.

"And here I thought you were too busy playing with toys." He murmured under his breath, just enough for Sujin to hear him as he tucked a protective arm around Sujin's waist for a moment when another demon edged just a bit too close. The shadows around him sharpened just a touch, a warning, but they softened when the gap between them grew.

Oh Aster. Sweet Aster. Little do you know that Sujin in that very moment was being hit on by a demon in a sharp looking tuxedo — sharp because of the spikes mostly. Little do you know Sujin politely rebuffed him, turning his attention to the bartender instead and ordering two sparkling wines for you both. Little do you know, Sujin is fingering that remote right now thinking about punishing you for the hassle of putting up with attention like this all night.

Maybe just a little test. To make himself feel better.

He rested his cheek in the palm of his hand as he waited, taking out the remote and eyeing it curiously, thumb skimming over the dial idly before pressing it up a couple of notches like a child playing with a fidget toy. Somewhere across the room Aster would feel Sujin’s light, curious play, that pair of siren eyes seeking him out to gauge his composure under pressure. He probably should have tested it out on him first, but oh where was the fun in that?

Not long later he would return to Aster’s side, the remote turned back down and returned to his pocket, two sparkling glasses clutched in his hands, setting little lights scattering up his dark-clad arms — when he’d asked for sparkling wine he hadn’t expected such a spectacle. Why was everything so damn literal in this place?

“Sorry it took a moment, the bartender was busy,” he apologized casually as if he had not just intentionally lit up the hellhound’s insides with tremors, handing him one of the glasses and sipping from his own with a glitter of his eyes — possibly from the wine, possibly all his own.

[hellslittleprince]

Sinday Memes for Naughty Headcanons

Fruit and Vegetable Edition

In case of Multimuse, don't forget to specify which one/s! Reblog, do not repost or add

�� What gets you in the mood the most? What's their biggest turn-on?

🍌 Did your muse ever get a sex related injury? If so, what happened?

🍑 Foreplay, or straight to business? What do you like to do for foreplay?

🍆 Do you masturbate? If so, how often?

🌶 Are you a sub, dom, or a switch? Do you prefer giving or receiving?

🍋 What is the most sensitive part you enjoy getting touched/played with? Do you have any no-go zones?

🍓 Are you a virgin? If not, when and how did you lose their virginity?

🥕 Have you ever had a threesome/orgy/multiple partners at once? If not, would you like to?

🍇 Oral, Anal or Vaginal? Which one/s do you enjoy most?

🍊 Do you own any toys? Have you used any? What is your favorite?

🍉 Name between 3-5 of your top kinks.

🍍 What is your sexual orientation? What is your romantic orientation?

🍒 Do you have an aftercare routine? What does it look like?

🧅 What is something you always wanted to try sexually but never got to?

🍄 What was your most memorable wet dream?

[hellslittleprince]

Aster had made some questionable decisions in his lifetime, and this one was teetering an edge he hadn’t dared get close to before now. An edge between the best decision in his life, and the worst. And for more reasons than Sujin - or anyone, frankly - might suspect. But despite what the fox might believe, Aster likely would’ve done this for Sujin regardless. If he’d asked, the hellhound might’ve pouted or grumbled or faked a dramatic sigh, but he would’ve, without a doubt, done as he was asked.

Anything for Sujin. Absolutely anything.

Which was one of the reasons he was a little uneasy as they walked in. Asking him to come to this event had taken a lot. He knew what it would entail, that even though Sujin was on his arm, others would be looking, leering, probably trying to find ways to get him onto theirs instead. It was a lot to ask, and the outfit on top could’ve been a tipping point, but here he was. Here they both were.

Perhaps that was why his own outfit was barely an outfit at all. Just black silk pants that hid very little, and his own magic, wrapped around him in shadow like ribbons that licked against tan skin, constantly moving, floating, a permanent reminder of what he was, and what he could do to those who dared try get close to Sujin.

Though, as Sujin whispered such sinful things in his ear, and he shifted his weight and felt that toy inside him, he was starting to regret the outfit choice too. Especially when the shadow seemed to wisp and reform with the distraction, and not a thing in the world would hide the reaction he was sure his body would have before long.

So yes, Aster was questioning his decisions greatly. But he was also eager for the evening ahead.

“Promises, promises,” Aster grumbled to himself as Sujin walked away, letting loose a breath as he surveyed the crowd. He could do this… what was a little buzzing, anyway? Maybe Sujin would forget about it…

The Dirty Kind of Teasing Meme | status: open

@hellslittleprince asked: [ VIBRATION ] ― your muse controls a sextoy my muse has inside of them. (From Aster!)

They had come to an agreement. It had been hard-fought on both ends, but the fox and the hound had finally met an accord and proceeded their night amicably (at least from Sujin’s perspective).

You see, Sujin did not like hell. Sujin did not like Lucifer. Sujin did not like the idea of being in the middle of a crowd of people hungry for everything that he was, all while wearing half a shirt and some sparkling chains down his bare chest and midriff like some kind of expensive burlesque dancer… though these were particularly stunning, and they even disappeared into more imaginative places — no doubt a personal detail picked out for later, the cheeky bastard.

But Sujin did like Aster. Sujin did like it when Aster was bold enough to ask him to wear something as avant-garde as this, considering what he was. Sujin did like punishing him for being a cheeky bastard.

And so they had come to an agreement. Sujin stood beside the hellhound, a black shrug of leather and something stretchy covered his arms and upper shoulders, a trail of diamonds dripping down his chest into sweeping, glittering chains that, yes, disappeared quite pointedly into the waistline of his crisp, tailored trousers in both front and back. He clutched Aster’s arm gingerly, playing his part as doting arm-candy, and in the far pocket was tucked his free hand, thumb tracing a small thin remote control, the receptor of which had been so carefully inserted into Aster’s backside before leaving the apartment.

A deal was a deal.

Sujin paused beside him just beyond the door to take in the party, already bustling it seemed. Spotting the bar he decided a drink was necessary, turning his gaze up to Aster and gesturing to it. “I’m going to get us drinks,” he informed before leaning up and speaking so close to the other’s ear the hellhound would feel the heat of his breath.

“If you cum before I get my hands on you, I get to fuck you into the mattress for a week,” he warned, lingering only a moment longer before patting his shoulder and smiling pleasantly as he turned and made his way to the bar, sidestepping guests and lingering gazes.

[hellslittleprince]

I know I’m notorious for disappearing but would anyone like to plot/write with Wolf?

[hellslittleprince]

Meli truly wasn't sure why she'd agreed to go. Or, she supposed, quite what weight her agreement held. Whether Dew thought this was her giving in and going with him entirely, or whether he understood this was purely for the talking he apparently wanted to do. In her eyes, she couldn't see there was much to talk about. Whatever the reasons, whatever the cause, her mother and he had abandoned her to be torn apart by the cold streets of the human realm, and hadn't bothered to return to pick up the pieces they'd left behind.

That Dew was here now? Well, it was too late. She'd had to pick her own pieces up, stick them back together with whatever she could find. She was sure if someone cut her in half, they'd find glue stick, gum, blue tack... Hell, she wouldn't be surprised if some of the cracks were held together by sheer force of will alone.

War might be on the horizon, but they'd already left her to rot before, why were they worried now?

And yet, there was no being pissed at him. Her mother? Her mother, she'd been pissed at for years, until it had chewed up what was left of her and spat her out the other side, leaving a numb place where the anger had been. For him, though... it had never been anger. It had been heartbreak. Betrayal. Devastation. Even now, having him stand there acting like nothing had changed, like he'd never stopped caring, was prodding at parts of her so sensitive she was sure they'd start pouring blood.

As they arrived, she glanced around the apartment, stepping away from him as her eyes were first drawn to the view. She knew it - or versions of it. Never from this high. Never from somewhere this nice. A further glance around and this place was incredible compared to her own loft. It was all sleek lines and perfect furniture, a bed that looked like a pile of clouds compared to her own second-hand, years-old mattress. She'd been trying to pull her life together for so long, had never for a second thought she was entitled to anything she didn't work for, but seeing this had her eyes prickling with tears. Longing for a life she'd been denied by the woman who was supposed to be the one person she could rely on in this world.

Her eyes stayed fixed on that view for now, and she was so still... As though touching anything in here would break it. Or she'd make something dirty. As though moving at all was a risk. She swallowed. Food could wait. She wanted to cut to the chase.

"What does she want, Dew?" She asked, voice small, but as steady as she could make it as she focused on blinking away the tears. She wouldn't allow those. Not now, not ever. "What does she really want? She never cared before, I fail to see why she would be concerned about me now, unless it's to have me under her control while the world goes to shit."

The whole thing had been a fool's errand. He knew that much the moment he'd heard and accepted the task. But considering his existence truly had seemed like one from the start [pulling a soul apart, piecing it back together with infernal fire and ice, hoping what came out on the other end was even cohesive, let alone coherent..], considering the little girl he'd practically raised was so obviously and easily the reason the amalgamation of a demon remained stable in the first place? It was an errand he hadn't even needed to think on.

He'd promised to try, whatever happened. Because while the Mistress had created him anew, and given him a name, given him his purpose, Meli had given him his soul.

Dew knew it was a crap-shoot, knew she'd be pissed at him at the very least, knew that the most he could hope for was to be told to fuck off--- So maybe he needed a moment, when that hand rose to him. Maybe he paused, and turquoise eyes glimmered for a confounded, excited moment. Maybe those very eyes even got a touch misty as his hand rose, so, so carefully holding hers, remembering when a whole hand wrapped around one of his fingers.

"I... I..Yeah I.. Okay" If the way he breathed out the words was any indication, he honest to fuck hadn't excepted to make it this far. And Mother help him, he couldn't keep the corner of his lips from pulling up just a little as he looked down the street. It.. wasn't far, from where they stood, but a glance down to soaked shoes, the cold chill of slender fingertips made his choice for him. He needed to get his sister out of the cold, soon as he could. So he looked into those eyes with a small nod, and held her hand, a shimmering pillars of ice-blue flame wrapping around them, taking them to the flat.

"It's uhm.. This is.. Yeah" He breathed out softly, looking around as he toed off his shoes, shoulder's shrugging. He cast their hands one more furtive look, free hand rubbing the back of his neck.

"Feel free to look around, raid the fridge if you want. I think I have some ramen that I could make for dinner?"

[hellslittleprince]

Puffery it might be, but it had him letting out a breath of a laugh, maybe relaxing just a little more. A good thing, because driving would’ve been difficult enough without being tense on top. He spared a glance to Sujin, to the way he was stroking the petals… and his heart gave a little flutter.

Had he done a good thing? Was it one right move in all of this? Maybe all hope wasn’t lost quite yet. Though it was once again a good job he couldn’t hear Sujin’s thoughts because knowing the other was waiting for this to fall apart would’ve had him fussing more to prove otherwise, and that hadn’t worked for him so far.

Maybe the movies he’d watched, the research he’d done, hadn’t been strictly right about how to ‘court’ someone. It was also entirely possible he was just a walking disaster, but for Sujin to at least seem more relaxed now… it was a move in the right direction. Enough that even his own eyes were drawn to the beauty of the city at night, to couples and families living lives he’d never thought about, never strictly wanted until recently.

“Radio then. Can’t be blamed if they put bad stuff on,” he smirked a bit, setting it up as they began to drive. And it was a quiet one… though it was nice, too. Seeing him look so strangely boyish, so full of thought… it was a side of him that Aster didn’t get to see and it was taking him a good amount of effort to keep his eyes on the road.

“What’s your favourite flower?” He asked after a few long moments, swallowing, “I know roses are the typical choice for gifts but… humour me.” Maybe this was his dumb attempt at conversation, or maybe he was searching for answers for the next date… if Sujin even wanted another one once this was all over. There was only a couple of roads left of the drive but…. Conversation could help ease that heavy moment maybe.

Sujin hummed his indifference at the choice of music with a small shake of his head, fingertips idly stroking the velveteen petals while being mindful not to cause them to molt.

“Driver’s choice,” he said before casting his gaze to the man beside him as he fastened his seatbelt, “but it better be something good,” he warned in a way he hoped Aster would know by now was all puffery.

He took his passenger princess opportunity to admire the details of the car now that he was beginning to understand the significance of it — that Aster had picked it out to impress him perhaps, or make himself feel more confident. Maybe both. Either way he had done well for himself in his choice.

It was fast. It was sensual. He could practically feel the motor purr between his legs when it started up.

Sujin tilted his head toward the glass of his window, peering out at the passing lights and signs of city nightlife, feeling for a moment he was seeing the familiar sights through new eyes — eyes that were allowed to be a little mystified by the romance of the hour when so many lovers and couples shared one another’s company in lounges and restaurants, taking walks hand-in-hand down the sidewalks. Feeding each other deserts, two spoons, one plate.

He still did not know if Aster had intended things to be quite so suggestive, but he would appreciate it while it lasted until the inevitable other shoe dropped. The other shoe always dropped.

[hellslittleprince]

It shouldn’t have been so difficult for Aster to work out what Sujin was thinking. The way he was twirling the rose and was so quiet probably should’ve told him that it wasn’t a bad reaction. But the air felt strange, and he couldn’t place it. Couldn’t quite work out what it was that he could taste on the tip of his tongue.

But it was pointless anyway, because Sujin was telling him to get in the car and Aster found himself oddly grateful for that. It was more normal, required less of him working it all out. Sujin wasn’t complicated, Aster was just an idiot. As was being proven to him time and time again this evening it seemed.

“Right… right, driving.” He murmured, closing Sujin’s door carefully and taking the few moments it took to walk to the drivers seat to take a deep breath. Sujin hadn’t laughed in his face or thrown the rose so that was promising, right? He knew that the fox wasn’t a cruel person, even if he had his taunts and banter and defensive way of being sometimes. But he wasn’t cruel. He just hoped his choice to keep it was as genuine as it seemed.

After he was in the seat, he took a glance over everything. Driving… easy, right? “Any music preference?” He asked, tapping a little at the screen to bring up something for music, clearly still a little all over the place but trying his best to calm down, “or there’s just the radio… I think.”

Sujin had not thought much of his own words beyond their usual petulance, not expecting Aster to read anything more into them than the brattish teasing he usually offered the other for his efforts, and truly if the car had not been so captivating he might have noted the way the other’s stiff smile didn’t reach his eyes as it usually did.

Not that he thought the trip to be anything more than business anyway. They did not smile warmly at each other about business.

His tongue clicked the backs of his teeth as Aster brushed his hand away, giving him an exasperated look at the chivalry, though something in the back of his mind began to nag at him…

“You hired this? Just for tonight?” he questioned him with barely suspended disbelief, “this car cost twice my life’s savings,” he pointed at it with a purse of his lips. Though he was not so proud as to not take a longing peek into the interior that was all alight with a soft blue glow from the dash. And on the seat…-

Sujin’s brows narrowed as he gazed at the red petals stark against the black leather. He reached in and plucked it up, the fragrance that reached his keen senses on such a small waft alone telling him it was fresh; it was real.

He turned after a beat, torso angled back at the hellhound as he gazed up into his face with a questioning look, the flower clutched close.

“Is… this mine?” he asked, voice softer than before, none of the petulance lingering, replaced with a troubling mix of confusion, curiosity, and embarrassment over how he’d acted until now if it was, or for thinking Aster had extended a romantic gesture to him if it was not.

[hellslittleprince]

Human money meant very little to a hellhound, when he could get hold of some whenever he liked within reason, and that was making him feel oddly guilty. There was a little bristle of pride too, that he'd picked the right car for the other's tastes, but he wasn't about to tell him how much it cost, either. That would be cruel and while the demon-hellhound had his moments, they were never aimed at Sujin. He'd made a point of that from the start, not that the other may have noticed. He'd never expected him to.

He was humming, blissfully unaware of the exasperated look he was being given and about to say something about figuring it was worth it for their date, for Sujin specifically, but then the rose was in Sujin's hand and his voice was so soft and was that embarrassment he caught the scent of in the air?

Aster's free hand flew back up to his hair, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly while the other stayed gripped far too tightly around the handle of the door, a huff of a nervous laugh slipping free.

"I..." Now would be the time for him to pull it all back together, to tell Sujin exactly what was going on, to tell him the rose was for him, because it had been the most beautiful in the whole store and reminded him of the other, that the red was almost the same colour as Sujin's lips after an ice lolly or a cold drink, or a more concentrated version of the colour that dusted his cheeks sometimes.

It would've been the time, but Aster was an idiot and so of course, nothing quite so eloquent came out. Only his own cheeks a horrible blotchy colour, and a murmured response.

"It's... yeah. Yours. If you want it. You don't have to, I just thought... you know, fancy meal, fancy car... fancy... rose? I uh... You don't have to take it. You can just throw it in the back seat or something." Because the absolute last thing Aster wanted, was for Sujin to be embarrassed by whatever the hell Aster thought he was doing.

Sujin had not thought much of his own words beyond their usual petulance, not expecting Aster to read anything more into them than the brattish teasing he usually offered the other for his efforts, and truly if the car had not been so captivating he might have noted the way the other’s stiff smile didn’t reach his eyes as it usually did.

Not that he thought the trip to be anything more than business anyway. They did not smile warmly at each other about business.

His tongue clicked the backs of his teeth as Aster brushed his hand away, giving him an exasperated look at the chivalry, though something in the back of his mind began to nag at him…

“You hired this? Just for tonight?” he questioned him with barely suspended disbelief, “this car cost twice my life’s savings,” he pointed at it with a purse of his lips. Though he was not so proud as to not take a longing peek into the interior that was all alight with a soft blue glow from the dash. And on the seat…-

Sujin’s brows narrowed as he gazed at the red petals stark against the black leather. He reached in and plucked it up, the fragrance that reached his keen senses on such a small waft alone telling him it was fresh; it was real.

He turned after a beat, torso angled back at the hellhound as he gazed up into his face with a questioning look, the flower clutched close.

“Is… this mine?” he asked, voice softer than before, none of the petulance lingering, replaced with a troubling mix of confusion, curiosity, and embarrassment over how he’d acted until now if it was, or for thinking Aster had extended a romantic gesture to him if it was not.

[hellslittleprince]

What was with him today? Why was he hooking on every word, why was every word feeling like a tiny dagger, aimed straight for a heart he hadn't even been sure he possessed until Sujin? And even now, he didn't really understand it. How this dark, shrivelled little thing could beat so hard, swell so warm for a man he was only supposed to be here to draw payment from.

Really, he supposed the other's assumptions were right. Those words had weight, a source Aster could trace them all the way back to.

They weren't most people. Sujin was more. Aster was less. Their relationship, if it could be called that, was built on the idea of torturing others as penance. But cruel...

Aster couldn't even really appreciate how much Sujin was appreciating the car, because that word stung. If only because his mind had wrapped around the entire sentence, and pinned this is too cruel to the entire night. Had assumed that everything, from showing up at Sujin's door, to hiring a nice car when they typically had to walk or jump in a cab, to taking him out for dinner, was cruel.

It would make sense, he supposed, for Sujin to see it that way. Because again, they weren't most people. And Aster wasn't made for this despite how hard he was trying to make this worthy of Sujin.

He swallowed all of those thoughts down, down, down until he could run a hand through his hair and give a tight smile that wouldn't look strangely tearful, and shrugged. "It's not mine. I didn't steal it or anything, I hired it. I'm not a particular fan of hoofing it either, but needs must." He drifted over to Sujin, nudging the other's hand out of the way probably a little too quickly, but opened up the passenger door for him. That's what you were supposed to do, right?

He'd forgotten entirely about the rose on the seat.

"It's too much of a walk there and a cab wasn't... it didn't feel right. So... So car." he shrugged, another tight smile as he waited for the other to climb in, to rush round to the driver's side. Now he just had to get them there in one piece...

“i seem to recall telling you never to underestimate me,” he mused aloud at Aster’s taunting, lifting a dark brow as he shut the door to his apartment behind them and turned to lock up. He fell into stride next to the Hellhound shortly thereafter. Brushing back a few damp strands still scattered about his forehead he followed the male downstairs and out the front of the building.

Sujin recognized the name and location quickly enough — he’d been around that part a few times, but never to the restaurant in question specifically— grunting and waving his own hand in understanding and for the other to continue. But when the plans stopped at ‘we’ll sit down, and we’ll eat,’ he found himself taken off stride, the lack of further intel leaving him with what felt like half the story.

No torture? No commotion? No blame and shame in public spaces for a damned soul who Lucifer had sent the motley pair after for repayment?

“That’s what most people do at restaurants, yes,” he ventured with a touch of hesitation, glancing up at Aster with a lift of his brow as they walked. “But last I checked we’re not exactly most people,” he reminded him, a little detail that he hadn’t been able to run from a day in his life; just when he’d think he could forget, the world had the cruel humor to remind him in typically inconvenient ways.

But the suspicion would burgeon as they stopped next to a car. A fancy car. A car he’d never realized Aster possessed (or had access to), and the sight caused those dark lashes to flutter.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been driving this the whole time and we’ve been hoofing it through local transit…” his gaze drifted along the car’s curves, appreciating it with possibly even a touch of the same carnal desire that came with appreciating a particularly nice body. “I know I’m being punished but this is too cruel,” he muttered, reaching for the passenger door and trying not to caress the handle awkwardly.

[hellslittleprince]

o p e n | (dae - demon, lucifer's right hand, realllyyy bad at commitment)

"I love you. Ain't that the worst thing you've ever heard?"

[hellslittleprince]

Lucifer was foolish in many things, but not this - he knew precisely what threat was in front of him, what burning those bridges, dancing that knifes edge, meant for him and everything he'd built. What it was doing to Yongsun, and the being that he was. He knew that of anyone in existence, those brothers were some of his biggest threats.

Especially lately, where weaknesses seemed to grow like weeds in Lucifer's so-called-court. Where they had all, amongst themselves, created more of a family in a handful of moments than Lucifer had ever had in millennia. Min was it. They'd all made that abundantly clear.

What did he have to show for it all, Yongsun asked? Centuries, millennia since their fall spent building this place, creating a home that grew and grew and required and still required more than Lucifer had to give. Yes, it fuelled him, powered him, but it pulled from him too. Min was a goal, yes, for an heir to one day take over or 'rule' beside him, but Min was more than that. He was the ultimate soft spot. The spot that Asmodeus and every other power-hungry enemy aimed for now. No, Lucifer didn't have time or space for other soft spots, because his biggest one was like a weeping, raw, open wound, constantly being poked at, prodded at, clawed at and made to bleed again and again with every waking threat.

But it wasn't strictly true, either. In truth, they had all been his soft spots. Every single one of them. Every brother, every person who had fallen, or moved in, or grew in Hell's hallways. They were each a soft spot, and when you had so many, when you took every single life as your responsibility? Every lost life, every threat to each of them, felt like he'd been scraped raw inside and out. There could be no lines in the sand, when the entire beach was covered in his own blood.

But perhaps Yongsun was right. Perhaps he was being selfish. Perhaps his fears, his concerns about the threat to their everything were too harsh. That every move he'd made, every decision aimed to protect the masses and had led to more losses than he could handle, were too much. But they'd needed someone to lead, someone to pull it all together back then, and now he was dealing with the consequences. Now he was and would always be shouldering the responsibility, the blame.

But fine, perhaps he could release the so-called prisoner and be done with it, let Asmodeus come and destroy it all. He could get Min safe, protect him in other ways, and let the rest of it all fall to him. Maybe they'd prefer the cruelty of his long-lost 'brother'. Banishing Wolf had been a moment of panic, of poor judgement, but he'd gone to the other side, and from what he'd heard, was flourishing. Perhaps they all would.

If fighting for him, for their home was too big of an ask, then Lucifer would have to let it burn.

And so he kept his own fiery eyes on Yongsun's right up until the last second, even if they didn't burn nearly as bright as they should when faced with such a threat. He was silent and tense, jaw clenched so hard his teeth groaned. But he watched, as flame carried away who he'd long considered one of his closest, holding someone who had apparently already joined the family Lucifer would never be part of.

"Bo..." he murmured, the hellhound appearing in flames seconds later. His nose flared a little, and Lucifer imagined he was taking in the scent of the keeper's blood. To Bo's credit, he said nothing. "Release him. Just... find Dae, get him to help you release him."

The hellhound looked confused, but he had never been one to question orders. Lucifer wondered if that would change soon. If he would become one of the growing many. But Bo bowed and nodded, and was gone in another column of flame.

And only once they were out of sight, did his shoulders slump, hands coming up to run over his face and the weary look of a father out of options overwhelmed him.

Ash, on the other hand, hadn't even realised they'd gone anywhere at first. He'd caught snippets, small parts of that conversation, if it could be called that. But he had far, far more painful things on the mind. On everywhere truly. Even as Yongsun leeched the pain from him, as he saw black smear down the other's cheek with his one seeing eye, Ash wasn't truly sure what had happened.

It wasn't even darkness. It was just absence. Like the king had taken the muscle, and torn it from existence. Deserved, perhaps.

So be it.

And god, Ash... Ash in all his stupidity, honed in on one thing.

"S-Stop. Stop, you'll... you're bleeding," he choked, voice hoarse and sobs still wracking through him, and yet that was still easier than facing the reality. Than what might now be his reality.

There was a moment that followed, a hint of static in the air as sounds and scents of pure anguish roses from behind. And Yongsun's head simply, and slowly tilted, eye locked on the other.

"And here we were, walking on a knife's edge... But you went and slipped, split yourself right up the middle....." A step take, a step closer ad teeth serrated, eyes glowed... and his voice dropped to a whisper, waves that receded from the beach a little too far back.

And he smiled.

"The lines in the sand are ones you've drawn on your own. In blood. I wonder how many more you can draw before you bleed yourself dry? You want blind faith knowing damn well that's what we fell to be free from. You poke fun at the soft spots I have, because you're so twisted up in your own bullshit that you can't see how much stronger each and every one made me. Because god forsaken soft spot is one that I fell for, ripped up my wing, my Oaths for. You want us to stop questioning the shit you do? Then stop doing so much questionable shit."

Another step, close enough Lucifer could've smelled the writhing bloodlust behind a smile pulled too wide.

"How many? How many mortals, how many souls did we subdue, or sway, or disappear simply because they were deemed unfit, a 'potential' imperfection, a potential threat? We ran-- we fell because we knew it was wrong then. We fell to be more than mindless pin pricks of perfection in the eyes of on, singular, too powerful being. I have plenty to show for it, in each and every one of those 'soft spots'. What about you, hm? What do you have to show for it?" He paused for a scoff, the smile simmering back from something Lovecraftian back to a sneer as he looked the other over.

"War. Maybe even a war rising on both ends. Think long and hard about exactly how many of your allies' bodies you can drop before there's nobody to watch your back, Lucifer"

The last words fell in a his as the smile fell from his lips as he turned his back to the being he once called brother and knelt by Ash's side. The chains were shattered in nearly an instant. A line of black ran from an eye as he took in the searing pain, and left in a plume of blue flame, eyes already starting to bleed green from the edges as he sat them on the floor, voice calm but quick. "I know-- I know, Ash. It'll be okay. Your eye, the pain. I swear it'll be alright"