Chapter Text
Although Emily was a sweet girl and a perfectly amiable guest, her presence in the hotel was making Lucifer self-conscious. She was put-together, polite, and self-assured; Lucifer felt like an inadequate ruler in comparison.
That was his own fault, he knew. At any point in the eons since he'd been cast into the Pit, he could have mustered up the resolve to rule properly. Instead, he'd spent the entirety of Hell's existence hiding away miserably in his workshop, letting Lilith do the work for him.
Today, that would end.
Lucifer's daughter was an inspiration. One day she would make an incredible ruler. But he'd spent enough time forcing her to take charge in his stead. It was time to man up and be a better king.
Unfortunately, he had been out of the loop for a very long time in terms of current events, and was far less informed about the overlords in power than he was proud of. He knew soul deals were rampant in the Pride ring, but not who held them or how the current hierarchy affected the overall wellbeing of the Pentagram.
This was how he'd found himself in the exceedingly uncomfortable position of having to seek out Alastor for information. Much to his frustration, however, the slippery bastard was persistent in his efforts to avoid the King of Hell at all costs.
No one Lucifer asked had seen the radio demon recently, though Charlie admitted she suspected he had been injured in the battle and that it may have affected him more than he let on. While Lucifer supposed that was understandable, it was making his efforts significantly more difficult.
Accepting that the deer demon wasn't in the hotel (or at least that he had no intention of being found), Lucifer dropped onto a barstool, slumping his shoulders as Husker wordlessly slid over a glass of moscato. The Devil raised it to the cat demon with a nod of thanks before taking a sip.
"What's got you so low, highness?" The title felt more like a nickname now than a term of respect, coming from Husk. Lucifer found he appreciated the new familiarity.
"I've... well, I want to do better as the king of Hell," Lucifer admitted, tapping his claws against the wine glass. "Start actually trying to see this place the way Charlie does. I've been absent from the political side of Pride for some time, and figuring out how the Overlords have been running things in my absence seems like the most logical first step."
Husker raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Hrn. Can't fault you for that, I suppose." He polished a bottle thoughtfully, brow furrowing as he considered something. "Tell you what... if you intend to do somethin' to improve shit, I ain't gonna stand in your way. Been a long time since I was active in the deal-making scene, but when I ain't working you can ask me about it sometime."
Lucifer paused in bringing the wine glass to his lips, looking up at Husker in surprise. "You were...?"
The cat demon grunted im acknowledgement. "Ain't a time of my afterlife I like to brag about," he admitted, "but... if you're anything like that kid of yours, I think it's worth giving you information to work with."
Lucifer was touched by the consideration. He smiled genuinely at the bartender, who turned away with an unintelligible grumble, pretending not to see.
"I think I'll take you up on that soon," Lucifer agreed. "In the meantime, I think it would be a good idea to get some information on what's going on now in the Overlord scene. Alastor's in on that, right? I haven't been able to find him."
Lucifer didn't miss the way Husk's fur stood on end along his scruff. "Between you an' me, I wouldn't trust a word outta that antlered prick's smiling mouth," the cat growled, grip on the bottle tightening. "He ain't someone to take advice from. But," he continued, "I do happen to know he left about an hour ago to go to some Overlord meeting in Carmine's territory. Might be a good time to make a debut, unless you're tryin' to keep things on the down low."
Lucifer considered this. Making his intentions known by suddenly showing up to an Overlord meeting could have consequences. A paranoid Overlord was a wildcard. However, crashing a meeting when they weren't expecting his interest would mean the most honest view of the current ruling sinners.
Decision made, Lucifer drained the rest of his wine for courage. "Tell me, Husker; where exactly would a group of powerful Overlords be meeting?"
-----
The King of Hell fidgeted as the floor numbers rose on the elevator display. His hand tightened on the head of his cane. With a cheerful "ding!" the elevator door opened to silence.
With a relaxed grin of false confidence, Lucifer stepped into the meeting room, the tapping of his cane loud in the shocked silence. Nine people sat around a meeting table; two, however, appeared to be associates of the woman standing at the projector, judging by their matching clothing. Seven Overlords, then.
"Greetings, your majesty," acknowledged the sharp-looking woman warily. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Oh, don't mind me," Lucifer assured, grinning like a shark. When in doubt, appear like you knew something they didn't. "I'm simply here to observe. Please, do continue your business." He stayed conspicuously where he was in front of the door, posture straight and unyielding.
The room remained frozen for a long moment. Slowly, the woman (Carmine, Lucifer assumed from Husker's directions) continued her outline of potential outcomes regarding the future of the Exterminations. Potential retaliation from Heaven, collapse of the exorcist army due to the exchange of power, perhaps no change at all.
Taking the distraction to study the inhabitants of the room, Lucifer noted the vast differences in personalities and domains among the gathered Overlords. A young dinosaur demon, possibly fairly new to the scene by her modern clothing, or at least up to date with the trends brought about by newer sinners. A flaming skull of a fair age, looking unsettled by Lucifer's presence, naturally. A spider demon with an incredibly ancient air about him seated beside the sharp-eyed woman. A sharp-toothed cannibal woman in formal dress with a hand on Alastor's arm, Alastor glaring fiercely at Lucifer, and a television demon glaring fiercely at Alastor.
Intriguing. There were clear alliances even between Overlords.
"So are we just not gonna talk about the fallen angel in the room?" The dinosaur interrupted incredulously. "I mean, no offense to you, your kingliness."
"None taken," Lucifer allowed with a nod in her direction.
"Oh, who's to understand the whims of our dear ruler?" the radio demon said with a carelessness wave of his hand that didn't match the bite in his smile.
"Or the mind of a man who believes himself above consequence," Lucifer retorted with an equally sharp smile of warning.
The television demon's gaze flickered between the deer and the Devil, looking offended for reasons Lucifer couldn't put his finger on.
"Thy visit is a rather unorthodox surprise, my liege," the ancient soul interrupted before the animosity could escalate. "The Morningstar family hath not been involved in the Pride ring's political affairs for some years. Thou art not considering... doing away with the current governance?"
"Ah, no," Lucifer assured quickly. "I'm not one to meddle in the affairs of sinners." By which he meant he was aware that the Pride ring's leadership had been heavily influenced by soul deals for many millenia, and that 'doing away' with them would have disasterous consequences if not done delicately. "No, I'm merely here to ensure my understanding of the current state of things is up to date due to the recent events at my daughter's hotel."
All at once, the Overlords seemed to remember that Lucifer had been recorded beating the everloving Hell out of the leader of the angelic army. None of them met his eye, and he swore he saw the flaming skull scoot his chair just slightly further away. Even Alastor averted his gaze at the reminder, just for a moment, before resuming his glare.
"You are Carmilla Carmine, yes?" Lucifer addressed the woman at the front of the room. She tensed at the attention.
"I am," she confirmed, gaze flicking quickly to the younger girls seated near her as they looked at her nervously.
"I would like to speak with you briefly once your business has concluded, if you'll allow me," the king requested. If he'd understood Charlie's long explanation of the events leading up to the battle, he had much to thank the Overlord for, but it wouldn't do to show his hand so openly. Particularly if the Overlord didn't want her allegiances known.
She nodded curtly.
"Well, I for one consider it a pleasure to meet you, King Morningstar," schmoozed the TV demon, rising to offer a handshake. Lucifer raised an eyebrow at him.
"Now, now, Vox, no need to posture for the man," Alastor mocked. "I'm afraid his temper can be a tad short over such things."
"Fuck off, you outdated talk-show jackass!" Vox snapped, losing the amiable facade so quickly it gave Lucifer whiplash.
"Such unprofessional language!" Alastor said with feigned shock. "And in front of royalty, no less! Whatever would the other Vees say?"
The dinosaur girl groaned.
"Is this a frequent occurance, then?" Lucifer sidled up to ask her as the two demons became absorbed in trading barbs. Though from what he could tell, it looked more like Alastor playing with the other sinner like a catnip mouse.
"Ugh, every fucking time," she complained. "The Vees all suck ass, but whatever Vox has going on with Alastor is somethin' else."
"A hate-boner, seems like," Lucifer mused aloud without really thinking about it. Too loudly, he thought regretfully as the spider demon choked on the sip of tea he'd been drinking. The dinosaur's head whipped back as she burst into wild laughter.
Alastor and Vox were broken out of their pissing contest by the sudden sound, both staring in confusion as the pink Overlord clapped a clawed hand against Lucifer's back. The force of it would have sent him sprawling over the table had he not braced for the impact at the last moment.
"You're alright, Majesty," she declared with a toothy grin. "I'm Zeezi. You come by Klub Kaiju if you ever wanna party, yeah?"
Tension successfully cut, Lucifer felt more comfortable walking around the table to pat the spider demon's back as he coughed over his inhaled tea.
"Sorry, son," the king apologized, "didn't mean to half drown you."
"It has been a very long time since I've been in the company of one old enough to call me such," the long-dead demon chuckled, coughing one more time. "But then, thou truly art more ancient than many recall."
"Eons more ancient, in most cases," Lucifer agreed. "I apologize for any offense."
"Not at all, my liege," the demon dismissed. "It hath been far too long since I last felt young in another's company."
"Zestiel has far more experience with an Overlord's duties to their people than any of us here," Carmilla praised. "If information is what you desire, you would have difficulty finding a better associate."
Lucifer nodded at this. "I would be most grateful to discuss that in more depth with you at your convenience, Zestiel." The demon bowed his head in polite agreement.
There was a scoff from the other end of the table.
"Did you have something to add, Vox?" Carmilla asked with a warning in her tone the media demon didn't heed.
"'Duties' she says," the TV muttered. "As if they're not the ones choosing to sell their own souls. They work for us, why would we owe them anything more?"
Half of the beings at the table glowered at the up-and-coming Overlord. Alastor made no comment to agree with either side, but eyed the head of the table irritably. Zeezi looked vaguely uncomfortable. Clearly this was a common point of contention among Overlords.
"This meeting is over," Carmilla commanded before things could escalate. Although she still had half a presentation to discuss, Lucifer could see she knew when to cut her losses.
Alastor had shadow-traveled away the moment the meeting's end was declared. As the other Overlords stood to leave, Zeezi complaining about how they could never seem to manage to get through a full meeting, Carmilla gestured for Lucifer and Zestiel to join her in her office to speak privately. The Devil bowed his head in polite thanks as he followed the ancient soul in, followed by Carmilla's associates.
"You had something to discuss, your majesty?" Carmilla asked, carefully standing between Lucifer and the others, much to his consternation.
"Please, call me Lucifer," the king insisted. "If my daughter is to be understood, I owe you a great deal for your aid in her defense against Heaven."
Her eyes widened at the unexpected offer. "I'm afraid my intentions weren't altruistic," she admitted cautiously. "I had my own reasons for providing support. There's very little I wouldn't do to keep my family safe." There was definitely an edge of a threat in her voice. Lucifer respected that.
"And yet your actions may have saved my own family," he declared, "so regardless of your reasoning, you have my gratitude. Should you ever need it, you will find my support against any force that would threaten those in your care."
"'Tis a powerful boon," Zestiel said with an impressed note in his voice at the crackling of pure angelic magic in Lucifer's words. "Yet a favor granted by one such as thyself is eternally binding, is it not?"
"It is," Lucifer acknowledged, "though not in the way you are familiar with. You have already fulfilled your end of the transaction, so to speak," he directed to the weapons dealer. "My offer is, of course, limited to a favor of equal magnitude and cause. If you should ever find your family in peril, mine will provide the same support you've given us."
"I... am grateful to accept," Carmilla said, still sounding stunned by the circumstances she found herself in.
With that, Lucifer secured an alliance with two of the most respected Overlords in all of Hell.