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[al_truism]

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[al_truism]

[The cow loooves that. She trips to lip his fingers, turning to him. Al rests his forehead against her other shoulder.]

... I used to sit at night, back when I didn't have a body that could sleep -- and I would stare at the wall. Awake, alone in my own head.

Now, it's like the same thing but with hallucinations.

[thelightbringer]

[Lucifer listens, focusing on the images in Al's memories. The similarities it bears to his time in the Cage.]

When is the last time you slept?

[al_truism]

For more than a few hours at a time? ... a week, I think.

[thelightbringer]

No wonder you're seeing things.

[He makes a vague, finger-wiggling gesture just off to the side, like a spider in the peripheral.]

[al_truism]

And being angry.

[thelightbringer]

That's loss. Having someone taken makes you angry. Being tired just makes you cranky.

Why can't you sleep?

[al_truism]

I can't sleep when I'm alone. I have nightmares.

[thelightbringer]

This is why we need prostitutes.

...Or something to put you so far under you don't dream.

[al_truism]

Negi used to help me when it got this bad. He had a spell that could clear your mind.

[Just ignoring the prostitute comment.]

[thelightbringer]

Mm. Manipulating dreams is easy. [He shrugs.] There are plenty here who would do it for you.

[Lucifer might. He likes dreams, he has just enough spare time to make it worth his while. But he doesn't offer outright, because it doesn't take a paranoid mind to see how letting Satan poke at your subconscious would be bad.

Even if he doesn't need permission to do it, there's a difference between someone breaking in, and leaving the door open with a map to all the valuables.]

[al_truism]

[Al knows. But he's very, very desperate, sick of this.]

I just... need to not think for a while.

[thelightbringer]

Why haven't you asked around? Negi wasn't the only magician here. And Snape has been here long enough to owe you a potion or three.

[al_truism]

Because I don't want to broadcast the fact that I'm not-

[... well.]

[thelightbringer]

[Lucifer just looks at him knowingly, though he never stops petting Marge.]

[al_truism]

I like the others to think that I'm doing all right. I don't want to drag anyone down or make them worry.

[thelightbringer]

Well, I won't criticize. I wouldn't tell those assholes I was in pain if my head was on fire.

[He winks, because that's not what Al meant, and he knows it. But he also understands what it is to not want to disclose the truth, when the truth is that you're not healing fast enough for them.]

So you're telling me, because you know it won't drag me down.

[al_truism]

Yes. It won't bother you. And if you think I'm weak -- well, you can't think much less of me.

[thelightbringer]

[He just smiles very slightly at that. What Al says is true, but there's a touch of sympathy in Lucifer's expression.]

You aren't the only person I know who's lost someone they needed.

But, back to the point. I can clear your mind now or I can follow you to bed. I'll let you decide how that goes.

[al_truism]

... would you just clear my mind? Nothing else?

[thelightbringer]

[SIIIIIGH]

Are we going to go through this every single time I offer something? You know, I told you my brothers could do it because I knew-

[al_truism]

Because I know I have to set boundaries with you. Otherwise I get visits in the middle of the night and charcoal mustaches.

[It's fact Lucifer, deal with it.]

[thelightbringer]

No one else complained.

[al_truism]

They weren't the ones with mustaches.

[thelightbringer]

It's making its rounds.

Are we doing this, or do you want to take your chances with my socially stunted siblings?

[al_truism]

Do it, please.

[He's on the edge of not caring.]