Cyberformed: Inbox

[hellsringmaster]

You've reached the King of Hell. If you're calling about something trivial reconsider leaving a message.

Comments

[happiestdayinhell]

[her father's response comes both far too quickly and not quick enough. She looks at the duck again and bites nervously at her lip.]

The one with the story. From when I was a kid.

[hellsringmaster]

[Perhaps it would have been better if this was audio or video since it would explain the long delay in his response. Lucifer scrambled over the space duck to get to the shelf where he kept the few mementos he had with him when he came through the portal. Sure enough, the duck in question was missing. That thieving asshole!!

He collapsed in a chair taking a deep breath before finally replying.]

I do.

-------

I made it a while back, for you. I never sent it. I didn't think you'd want it. It's a little childish, and you're not a little girl anymore.

[happiestdayinhell]

[It's an agonizing wait, staring at her phone, waiting for that response. It nearly got to the point where she wonders if maybe she should go do something else while she waited. Maybe he got distracted and she shouldn't be staring at her last message like that would will his response into existence.

Then he replied and her breath caught.

Eye stinging, she went to reply, only to erase the message and change her mind. She hit the call button before she could think a second thought about it.

As it rang, she paced around her room. At some point, she picked up the duck and fiddled with it in her free hand.]

[hellsringmaster]

[He almost dropped his comm when it started ringing, startled. Oh geeze! It was probably fine..she wouldn't call if she was upset, surely. Probably? Either way he couldn't not answer]

Charlie! Hello. Ahem. How are things?

[What kind of question was that? Idiot!]

[happiestdayinhell]

[There is a pause on the other end as Charlie took a deep breath and let it out. She was tempted to just hang up, but she's made it this far. This wasn't the first time they had spoken, so why was this so hard? She didn't struggle this much when she first arrived on the ship.]

Hey dad... [Her voice is a little strained, but more from nerves then from lack of willingness to talk to him.]

Sorry I called you so suddenly, I just thought... well, the duck... [Another breath.] Thank you. I... I really like it.

[She bites at her lip, squeezing said duck as she waited for his response.]

[hellsringmaster]

Oh.

[Surprise, relief, concern, affection- there were a lot of emotions packed into that one syllable. Lucifer held the phone away as he let out a breathe he didn't know he had been holding.]

I'm glad to hear that, sweetie. I should have given it to you before, or at least tried. Sorry about that.

But maybe it's better you got it now. It helps a bit, having a bit of home when you're stuck somewhere you don't want to be.

[It is pretty evident he is talking from experience, especially for Charlie.]

[happiestdayinhell]

[Charlie paces around a moment before pulling over her chair and sitting down. She fiddles with the duck some more as she listens to her father talk, the fretting knocking a few notes lose. She freezes for a second before gently placing it back on the desk.

She worries at her lip some more as she pulls her legs up on the chair with her, toes curling over the front edge.]

Yeah, it does help. But... I mean... [She sighs. Might as well say what's on her mind.] Even if I didn't have the duck, I would still have you... right?

[It sounds far more desperate and full of pleading hope then she wanted, but there was no taking it back now.]

[hellsringmaster]

[He wanted to answer 'Always,' but hesitated. Given the last few years, he wasn't sure he had the right to sat it.]

Yes. Of course, Charlie.

[His free hand moved to his mouth, biting at his claws as he wrestled with the words.]

I know...I wasn't always around when you needed me, but you have always been the most important thing in my life. Anything in my power is yours for the asking, you just name it.

[happiestdayinhell]

[Charlie relaxes a little and a small smile graces her lips. It feels like they're getting somewhere at least, even if things still feel a bit tense. It's not perfect, but it's a start, it's trying and that's all she's asking for.

Her stomach is currently in knots, but maybe not all of them are bad now.]

I think... right now... I just want you, dad. We have some things to make up for, but you're trying, and that's all I really want.

[It's not like they had a whole godly army to fight here, right? Well, there was Adam but that was it's own problem. She could deal with that later. He could keep his stupid butt out of this father-daughter bonding moment.]

[hellsringmaster]

[It was good no one was around to see his eyes tearing up.]

It makes me really happy to hear that, and I'm going to make up for the time we lost.

[Maybe he couldn't make up for all of it, but he'd be damned if he wouldn't try his best.]

Actually, there's something I'm working on that I'm sure you would be able to help with. If you want to, that is.

[A father-daughter project would do them good. Probably. It would at least help give Charlie something to focus on besides being far from home and all her friends (and girlfriend, he reminded himself).]

One of those robots challenged me to set up a space for those younger robots to keep them occupied where they could learn things. Kid's science center type thing.....though less guts and visceral than the ones in Hell I'm sure. I've some details drafted up, but I know you would have plenty of ideas.

What do you think?

[happiestdayinhell]

[She knows how she wants to answer, but there is a bit of hurt and hesitation that had her pausing before she answered.]

I...

[She starts, but then trails off a little. She wanted this, she did. But could she trust him to actually stick around. Not that he really had anyplace to go, but he could be good at that sort of thing. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. She had to give him a chance.]

I would really like that dad, it sounds fun.

[It really did! Awkwardness with her dad aside, she really did like the idea of doing something to help out around the ship. She's always looking for projects.]