CMO

[feels_manager]

 /o/

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[hatingloving]

[ Well... He had a lot of baggage on his shoulders, a ton of weight hanging over him what with Lucifer dying and potentially the end of the world. Which, is still there, but Akira has helped him deal with it when before he was pushing it all down. A quiet, pleased hum. ] A boatload sure is a lot, perhaps you ought to start asking now. [ Catching that hand poking his chest and tugging Akira to him, wrapping both arms around his waist. Astaroth looks amused at the eyebrow motion. ] What is that look for, exactly? Hm? What naughty thoughts are going through your head? [ Leaning in to give Akira a proper kiss. ] Humans are fond of saying that all's fair in love and war for a reason.

[feels_manager]

[Oh, he's so affectionate and Akira sinks right into that hug with a soft laugh.]

Okay. Question one: What makes you the MVP here?

[And as for the naughty thoughts... He gives an innocent look.] I'm just saying, I'd be surprised if a god of fertility isn't real thirsty.

[He'll return the kiss and think on that love thing.]

[hatingloving]

[ After the kiss, he'll spin Akira around so he's facing the balcony with Astaroth pressed behind him. ] So you know how there's a Holy Trinity - I'm part of the evil trinity. Basically, I help rule hell. While Lucifer was off doing those games, I looked after everything for him. [ A quiet sigh at that, though his feelings say he's still amused. He rests his chin on Akira's shoulder. ] I suppose you'll have to find that out for yourself. [ Astaroth's voice is low and flirtatious. ]

[feels_manager]

[Oh, Akira's alright with this. He immediately leans back, giving a pleased sigh as he listens to the demon's words.] Dude, nice. [He turns his head sideways into him.] I wouldn't call you evil, though. [O-oh... there's a shiver at that voice, and he turns and brushes a kiss against his temple.] I... [But he falters.]

[hatingloving]

[ A thoughtful hum as he squeezes Akira lightly in his arms. ] I'm not good either. Humans have this way of seeing things in black and white. So if God and his people are good and considered holy, clearly Lucifer and his must be labeled evil. [ Astaroth has done his job as a demon, has tortured people and set up sessions for others and well... sometimes he enjoys it. Though most people who end up in hell deserve it. He can't really watch Akira from this angle but he does tilt his head to at least see his profile a bit. There's curiosity tinged with concern. ] What is it?

[feels_manager]

Mm. [He brushes his nose against his cheek.] Would you call yourself evil?

[He lets out a tense breath, his tone apologetic.] Can you... give me awhile? I'm— ...still adjusting to the whole clone thing.

[Adjusting to suddenly not being the person with his beloved partners.]

[hatingloving]

[ A long pause. Then without a hint of lying. ] Yes. [ At least, that's what Astaroth believes of himself. Another moment of silence but at least he doesn't seem mad or upset by this request. Instead, he nods. ] Yeah, take all the time you need.

[feels_manager]

[Not surprising...] What have you done? In general. [Since... he's obviously not going to ask Astaroth to list off every sin he's committed in his thousands of years of living. He doubts he even remembers them all. He relaxes at the answer, and turns his head to nuzzle him gratefully.]

[hatingloving]

[ One hand motions to the space beyond the balcony, beyond the mansion. ] We're in hell, not all the torture is as nice as this place is. Plus I've condemned living souls to eternal damnation, started wars, killed humans. [ Not to mention the thing that got him kicked out of heaven in the first place. ]

[feels_manager]

[Maybe asking for "in general" was a mistake, because now he has no context.] ... fair enough. [A pause.] Do you think you're a bad person? [It has a different connotation than someone who's "evil".]

[hatingloving]

[ If he wants to know, he can try asking. Astaroth may elaborate.

A sigh. ] Yes. I've taken pleasure in torturing people, Akira. Granted, they weren't good either and many of them deserved to be in hell but I still enjoyed it.

[feels_manager]

[A pause...]

... because it feels good, right? To be able to exercise power when you're feeling helpless in another area of your life.

[Akira knows that feeling all too well.]

[hatingloving]

[ His head shakes. ]

No, because they've deserved. We get people who are really terrible like Hitler, Stalin, Jack the Ripper and others who have killed either by the hundreds of thousands or for the sheer fun of it.

Then we have those who just... didn't do the right things to get a better afterlife. I don't deal with those ones too much.

But I enjoy teaching humans lessons who truly deserve eternal torment.

[feels_manager]

[He gives a snort.] Well, yeah, who wouldn't want a go at those kinds of people? That's like every person's justice fantasy— to knock those down who are corrupted and teach them the meaning of suffering. [He pokes his arm.] Not very awful if you ask me. Natural if anything.

[hatingloving]

[ A shrug but there's something in his emotions that say... something. Regret, maybe. ]

Natural for a demon. For humans, too. I... I used to be an angel. Torturing people was never supposed to be what we were about.

[feels_manager]

Yeah? [He leans back into him a bit more. His voice is gentle:] ... can I ask how that happened? Becoming a demon?

[hatingloving]

[ Akira will feel some frustration rising but it's not at the question being asked. They're old lingering feelings. ]

I'm sure you've heard the story. God made man, Lucifer rebelled and tricked the first humans so God punished him - tossed him into hell.

A lot of us were tossed out for siding with Lucifer. Punished to do this job by dear ol' dad.

[feels_manager]

Right, that.

[He runs a hand soothingly over his arm.]

Pretty dick move if you ask me— sending everyone to hell for something like that.

But I also know stories tend to get changed with time. I doubt what I've heard is how it all really went down. If I'm perfectly honest, I don't even recall the details...

[hatingloving]

[ A sound of agreement when Akira says it was a dick move. ]

Yeah well, that's God for you. He didn't like that someone else played with his toys so he threw a fit and grounded all of us.

[ He shrugs at that. ]

Lucifer and God didn't see eye-to-eye, so Lucifer corrupted humans and God punished him.

[feels_manager]

[A small noise escapes out of Akira's throat, before he gently moves to break free of Astaroth's hold. Once he does that, he takes the demon by the hand to lead him over to the bed... and then flopping on it, tugging Astaroth to join him.]

[hatingloving]

[ There's no reluctance when Akira draws him away from the balcony and over to the bed. Allowing himself to be tugged down to lay down next to the human.

An arm wraps around the human and pulls him in close. ]

[feels_manager]

[He lets himself be pulled in and presses a soft kiss to Astaroth's lips, hand coming up to frame his face. There's a gentle, fond smile on his face.] I'm glad to finally see this side of you.

[hatingloving]

[ He huffs but isn't really irritated or annoyed by those words. Instead, he tries to let that old bitterness dissipate for the time being. It's much nicer to just lay here with Akira. Astaroth smiles softly. ] Yeah? [ His hand comes up to thread through dark hair, casually playing with it. ]

[feels_manager]

[He helps soothe that bitterness away, giving a soft hum as his hair is toyed with.] Yeah. Relaxed... content. [His thumb runs over his cheek as his gaze softens, the smile dimming a little.] But is it enough?

[hatingloving]

[ Astaroth allows it to be soothed away and just lets himself be in the moment. To forget about his other troubles and woes. ] There's only a couple of people who get to see it. [ Which Akira is now part of. His brows furrow at the dimming smile, at the question that follows it up. ] Is that really a question that needs answering? I have you and Cinna... but the world is ending and Lucifer is dying. [ And that's only the tip of the iceberg. That's not including Beelzebub and Astarte in the list of Big Problems. ]