_{ENDURINGWILL.}

       _{he had no qualms mouthing off the last guy who was here, the one to bring him in ; it’s not his first rodeo with the police.  he shrugs, extending an arm to usher her in.   ❝ here t’ keep me company, or — ? ❞}

_{‘    something like that.    ’      technically,  she isn’t even allowed to ask him about the  WEATHER  without breaching protocol.  a quick,  passing appraisal of the room ;  cramped,  sparsely furnished,  as these places tend to be ;  &  she aims for an empty chair.      ‘    wish i’d brought a deck of cards.    ’}

_REIGNEDHELL.

_{BRACING FOR IMPACT,     inevitable speculation that leaves more questions than answers.   disquietude has taken permanent residence in the marrow of his bones.}

_{‘     my,  my,  detective.   i’d more than happy to let you cuff me up in the bedroom   &   give me a proper interrogation if that’s how you like it.   i’m curious     –––––     why am i tasked with nannying the  child  instead of pulling strings in the department to benefit detective douche ?     ’}

_{‘    LUCIFER.    ’      sharp,  admonishing,  with a whetted edge that’s one part amusement  &  two parts exasperation.  isn’t there a pop psychology term for this  thing  he does ?  displacement ?  head tilted,  she levels her gaze      ❪   upward angle,  as per usual   ❫      as both arms lift to fold across her torso.}

_{‘    ––––––  right.  &  uh,  by  pulling strings,  should i assume you’re talking about a cocktail of mind games  &  manipulation ?  mm,  yeah  —  no,  somehow i don’t think that’ll help his case.  thank you,  though.    ’}

_{‘    john murphy  —  ?  detective decker,  LAPD.  i talked to your caseworker on the phone,  she said she’s been trying to track down your mom so i can ask you a few questions.  you mind if i sit ?    ’      //  @enduringwill.}

_REIGNEDHELL.

_{‘     UNFORTUNATELY FOR MAZE,     she owes me a favour.   several,  actually.   this isn’t the worst i could ask of her,  despite what she may  think.     ’}

_{‘    a lot of people  owe you favors,  lucifer.  that doesn’t answer the question.  you’ve been  ––––––    ’     maybe  STRANGE  is the wrong word.  strange is nothing new.     ‘    never mind.  i’m late,  &  you’re stonewalling.  give me sixty minutes so i can meet with dan’s lawyers  &  you can add my IOU to the list,  okay ?    ’}

_REIGNEDHELL.

_{‘     YES,  DETECTIVE,     that’s the point !   an hour of my  precious  time that needn’t be wasted on these menial little tasks.  i’m not your bloody nanny,  now am i ?   though,  perhaps i could send  maze  to fetch the small human instead     –––––     ?     ’}

_{‘    maze,  your ninja bartender ?  yeah.  bet she’d  LOVE  that.  what is the  matter  with you today  —  ?    ’}

_{‘    —  i’m gonna let that slide,  because i can tell you’re distracted,  but it’s an  HOUR  of your precious time.  just pick her up from school,  let her watch 20 minutes of  kim possible  on her tablet,  &  i’ll be there before you know it.  is that  really  too much to ask ?    ’      //  @reignedhell.}