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THANK YOU FOR VISITING US TODAY AT THE THEATER OF THE OMNIPOTENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY RECORDING OF THIS PERFORMANCE, EITHER THROUGH VIDEO OR PHOTOGRAPH, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. IF YOU WISH TO ENJOY SWEETS OR CANDIES, PLEASE UNWRAP THEM NOW. THE SHOW WILL START VERY SHORTLY. PLEASE ENJOY YOUR TIME HERE.
The curtain rises, spotlights hanging over two chairs facing each other on opposite sides of the stage. The spotlights turn off, then illuminate two figures who have appeared sitting. The man on the left side is pale like the blood has been drained from him, dark circles sagging his sharp eyes down. He does not smile, for everything is displeasing to him. The man on the right has a scowl, but it is from appearing in a new place rather than eternal displeasure. He has a kind of stirring in him, like he’s bursting with so many emotions and so much life. The moment they spot each other, all peace turns to war.
SANDALPHON
Lucilius!
LUCILIUS
The spare. The grit. What a miserable fate that I have to see your face again.
SANDALPHON
I’d like to say the same thing! Give back Lucifer's body!
LUCILIUS
I made this body, I can do with it as I please. If you want it back, you’ll have to kill me first.
Sandalphon reaches for his sword, but there are no weapons here. Their hostile neutrality zone stretches far between them.
SANDALPHON
Fine then. Regardless of whether you live or die, I’ll still protect the skies, no matter what. Fume all you want, your plans will always fail.
LUCILIUS
A wretched imitation thinks he can speak back to me? Your hubris is more terminal than I expected.
SANDALPHON
Don’t play dumb. You agreed that if Lucifer fell, then I was to take up his power. Don’t deny it, I heard it. If anything, I’m fulfilling that directive. Now you’re throwing a tantrum? Lucifer’s death... should never have come to pass, but if you were so opposed to the idea of me becoming Supreme Primarch, then you shouldn’t have agreed to it.
LUCILIUS
Why you. Lucifer was always running back to that make-believe garden, to babble about nothing. What a waste of time. I should have turned you into scrap parts.
SANDALPHON
Enough. Even if Lucifer was still alive, you think he wouldn't have stopped you?
LUCILIUS
Of course he would have tried to stop me. Lucifer was perfect. A being of order wholly determined to protect the skies would have put everything into keeping it afloat. But by some miracle, in some possibility a quadrillionth small... you would have never existed, and Lucifer would have lived to see the end of the world. My apocalypse has no place for you.
Sandalphon's eyes go wide with understanding. When he speaks again, it's with the power of someone who has finally solved a long-perplexing puzzle.
SANDALPHON
Lucifer chose me. I may not have been perfect, I may have stumbled along the way but... that choice was his own. And you. Your grand finale was against everything Lucifer stood for. As long as that remains true, he would never have chosen you. Ever.
If Lucilius was glowing with anger before, now he is alight with rage, enough to suck all the air from the room. Still, Sandalphon doesn't move from his seat, confident in his own truth.
LUCILIUS
I should have punctured your cradle before you were born.
CUT TO:
THE EMPTY STAGE
The stage has fallen into darkness. When the spotlights turn back on, the chairs have not moved, but two new people are occupying them. The man on the left oozes seduction from every pore. He knows the shapes shadows take before they appear, and is talented at sculpting them to suit his own ends. The man on the right side has a much gentler face. He had hope, once upon a time, and though he doesn’t say it, he still does.
BELIAL
Well, well. Good evening to you, O Great Supreme Primarch.
LUCIFER
I’m not Supreme Primarch anymore. And please, you don’t have to be so formal with me. I never expected that from you.
BELIAL
Ah, but you never expected anything from me, did you?
(He shrugs, heaving a sigh.)
Fine, I’ll bite. What would you like to be called?
LUCIFER
I’m not sure. But you are so good at nicknames, you gave one to everyone in Canaan. Then could you perhaps also think of one for--
BELIAL
(Instantly)
No. Never.
Lucifer looks like he’s been slapped. He threads his fingers in his lap.
LUCIFER
I see. So even now, you hate me. I thought...
BELIAL
Did you really think I ever liked you?
(His eyes curl wickedly)
Don’t tell me, you never realized I hated you so much until the moment you died?
LUCIFER
I didn’t even know you were still alive.
BELIAL
That was the whole point. Nobody can escape your watchful gaze, Lucifer. You were so good at knowing everything. Well, everything but the things that mattered.
LUCIFER
You mattered to me, Belial.
BELIAL
(Bored)
I’m sure I did.
LUCIFER
You did. We were made so close together. I considered you a dear friend. Why don’t you believe me?
BELIAL
Yeah? Alright then. Let’s say you did. What mattered to me, then? Go ahead, say it. You’ve had plenty of time to think it over after your death, haven’t you?
LUCIFER
Lucilius. You... cared deeply for him.
BELIAL
(A false smile appears on his face, as he applauds the answer.)
Good job, Lucifer! Hole in one. Well, that level of an answer is only worth a cheap bit of pleasure. Like getting a quick handjob in an alley.
Lucifer’s face creases a little. It’s clear he doesn’t know how to respond.
BELIAL
I can tell you’re really wracking your brain over something! Go ahead, you can say what it is. Already got to see you die once, after all, there’s no killing someone twice.
LUCIFER
I... fail to see how your feelings had anything to do with me. Did you think I would have objected to seeing the two of you together? I wouldn’t have. If only you’d told me, I could have spoken to Lucilius, I could have tried to change his mind--
Belial holds up a hand. Lucifer’s words die in his mouth. Belial rakes a hand through his hair, inhaling sharply, settling on the exhale. There is no fury in his expression, only a hate so strong it has smoothed everything around it into nothingness.
BELIAL
Yeah. Yeah, you probably would, wouldn’t you? What a sight that would have been, you trying your hardest to appeal to Faa-san, tell him all of my good points. You would’ve been terrible at it. It would’ve been so embarrassing that I wanted to vomit. But the thing is? It wouldn’t have made a difference. You could have fallen flat on your face going through all the motions and it still wouldn’t have done anything. That decision’s not up to you.
LUCIFER
Then if it isn’t due to my inaction, why...
BELIAL
Did you see the way Faa-san looked at you?
LUCIFER
I don’t think the way my friend felt about me was the kind of emotion you are chasing from him--
BELIAL
You were always obtuse, but now you’re just being stupid. Use your brain, Lucifer. You were his ultimate creation. He adored you. Whatever that feeling was, he only had eyes for you. He was even happy when you killed him.
Lucifer’s mouth wrinkles. He looks wretched.
LUCIFER
I didn’t ask for this.
Belial has always known. He hadn’t asked for it, either.
BELIAL
Well, that’s just how the dice falls.
CUT TO:
THE EMPTY STAGE.
Lucifer still remains pensive under the spotlight, unease clouding his face. When the spotlight illuminates Lucilius across from him, his eyes widen, and delight and pain mixes together into something unreadable.
LUCIFER
My friend...
LUCILIUS
(Unguarded)
Lucifer.
LUCIFER
It's been a long time. I know our ending was not what either one of us wished for. Still, will you answer a question for me?
LUCILIUS
Go ahead. I’ll respond to any inquiries you have.
Lucifer takes a deep breath. He knows that when his friend says any, Lucilius is not telling the truth.
LUCIFER
You tasked me with overseeing the skies and its evolution. To protect the stability of the world. That was truly my purpose, correct?
LUCILIUS
Yes, that’s correct.
LUCIFER
Then why would you tell me to protect the world if you wanted to destroy it all in the end?
Lucilius’ expression hardens, not at Lucifer, but some bitter memory within him.
LUCILIUS
My decision was... a revelation that only occurred after your creation.
LUCIFER
I had no idea.
LUCILIUS
It was not something you needed to know.
LUCIFER
I... I understand that you didn’t want to distract me from my duties. But I was your friend, did you not trust me with your pain?
LUCILIUS
Some things you shouldn’t see. Some things are too ugly for you to see.
Lucifer has known Lucilius his whole life, and yet, he knows nothing will be able to pry an answer out of him.
LUCIFER
Then will you at least tell me why you decided to try to tear the world down? In death, I can no longer stop you but...
LUCILIUS
Then why do you want to know?
LUCIFER
Because you’re still my friend. Even if both of us did what we had to do.
Lucilius takes in Lucifer’s firm expression, unyielding until he hears what he wants. He turns away from it, looking out somewhere, not at anything, into the dark.
LUCILIUS
Imagine you are walking along the beach, and there, you decide to build a house. Many times the winds have shorn the walls down, many times your calculations are off and it collapses on itself, many times the salt eats into the wood and weakens the foundation. But you are determined. Through trial and error, you finally made something you can be proud of, something you spent your whole life working towards. It was beautiful. Inside, you were safe. You were happy. Then you find out that someone brought you to that beach, gave you your tools, whispered the ideas for that house in your head. The beautiful home you made with your own hands was part of someone else’s design, so they could better the land, so they could profit off your blood.
(As he speaks, his voice sharpens enough to cut flesh.)
Of course you would want to kill them. And don’t tell me that there’s any other way I should feel.
Nothing more is said until the spotlights go dark.
CUT TO:
THE EMPTY STAGE.
Lucilius remains sitting where he was before, arms crossed, eternally unsmiling. When the spotlight shines down on Belial, his expression does not shift, but something about his form relaxes ever so slightly, as if he knows he’s not in danger.
LUCILIUS
Belial. If you have time to spend here, then at least go be productive.
BELIAL
Why the rush? As far as I can tell, this isn’t a hostile space, and it’s not like we’re exactly in a hurry.
Belial turns the chair around, crossing his arms on the backrest of the chair and grins.
BELIAL
Why not enjoy the time we have together?
LUCILIUS
Worthless. Lazy. How hard it is to find good help.
Belial is unbothered. He is happy to enough just to watch Lucilius across him, even if he never shifts or changes.
BELIAL
Degrade me as much as you want. I’ll love you no matter what.
LUCILIUS
I am aware.
BELIAL
Do you know what that means?
LUCILIUS
You harbor some affection for me. You have some vision of me in your head you’ve put on some pedestal. You will do anything for me. You had every opportunity to harm me in Canaan if you so desired, but you never did. It never crossed your mind.
BELIAL
All good and true! You know me so well. But ahhh, you don’t get it. You don’t get it at all.
(He sighs, shaking his head. once he’s done ruminating for a while, he looks at Lucilius, who still stares right back at him.)
I will do anything for you. I’ll slaughter whatever stands in your way. I’ll trample anything that crops up to grip at your feet. I’ll be right behind you when you tear god down from his throne. But I love you, so I will never let you die. And that’s the one thing you’ve been wanting too, isn’t it? All of god’s creations are to fall with him. Not even you’re an exception to the rule.
LUCILIUS
You claim to love me and still you won’t let me have what I want?
BELIAL
Of course I will! Anything, but that. Of course, you can cut me down, that for sure would stop me from getting in your way. I wouldn’t mind dying, only if it’s by your hand. But every mastermind needs an accomplice. Kill me and nobody in the world will be on your side.
If Lucilius is considering Belial's answer, it isn't apparent. Only that he does not move across the stage to inflict violence, nor does he get up and leave.
LUCILIUS
I will never understand why you want to love me. I can't love. I won’t ever be moved by your feelings.
BELIAL
(laughs)
Don’t you worry about that! I knew that the whole time.
LUCILIUS
Is it that amusing to chase after something unattainable?
BELIAL
It’s the best. Like chasing after a shooting star. Chasing it is half the fun. Just being by your side is enough for me.
LUCILIUS
Then what happens, after you’ve caught this star of yours?
Belial leans back in his chair, contemplative for once. He thinks for a long, long time.
BELIAL
I don’t know. It seemed so impossible, that I never thought about it.
They sit in silence some more.
LUCILIUS
I see.
CUT TO:
THE EMPTY STAGE
Belial remains in his chair. Lucilius’ section has fallen into darkness. The spotlight shines down on where Lucilius once sat, where now appears Sandalphon.
BELIAL
Hey, Sandy. Still kicking, are we?
Sandalphon looks like he’d stepped ankle-deep in mud.
SANDALPHON
Belial. Crawled out of somewhere, did you? And don't you worry, I'm not going to die so easily.
BELIAL
What a shame. Well, good for you, I'm surprised! Lucifer's dead and gone, but you're still clinging to life. And here I thought you had nothing left to live for.
SANDALPHON
I've found things to live for.
BELIAL
Sure, transient things. But that doesn't mean much when it comes down to it, does it? You can run your little cafe and discover all the islands across the skies but face it, you're never seeing Lucifer again. That's what you get for not getting what you wanted while you had it. Oh, but you never would have done that anyway, would you? After all, you wouldn't even have gotten together if it wasn't for me.
The breath has been slapped from Sandalphon's lungs.
SANDALPHON
I- How dare you, I would have--
BELIAL
How cute, you think you can lie to me! Don't even try it. Even if Lucifer lived, your stalemate of one to one would have continued for all eternity. You never had the guts to reach forward. You wanted Lucifer to be something he's not and so you missed out on your chance. You're never getting it ever again.
SANDALPHON
And you're so different.
BELIAL
Oh Sandy, I know I'm different. Two thousand sleepless years until the moment I could get Faa-san back. Your misery is just a drop in the bucket in comparison. I put everything I had into making sure he breathed again. And I've been rewarded for my fortitude. His fire will blacken out the skies once more! He will see things through to the end. No matter how awful and miserable he is, I'll love him regardless.
SANDALPHON
So that's what you're saying? I didn't love Lucifer enough?
BELIAL
If you did, you would've known better. So what are you going to do to pass the time now? Eat good food? Meet new people? We all know you're never moving on from Lucifer. You'll be by yourself until your core crumbles into pieces.
SANDALPHON
Not like you, I suppose.
BELIAL
(With absolute certainty)
I put all that effort into making sure Faa-san returned. I'm never letting him go, ever.
SANDALPHON
At least I know at the end of things, Lucifer loves me the same way I love him. How about Lucilius? Does he feel the same way about you?
Belial stops smiling. They glower at each other, two people who know too much about the other, the same reflection on other sides of the mirror.
BELIAL
Sandy, you're no fun. You used to be exciting to pick at, now you're just a killjoy.
CUT TO:
THE EMPTY STAGE
Sandalphon still brimming with frustration, bubbles under the spotlight. His expression softens the moment he sees Lucifer under the spotlight across the stage.
SANDALPHON
Lucifer!
LUCIFER
Sandalphon.
The two of them stare wordlessly at each other, neither of them moving, as if they're afraid that distrubing the space between them would plunge the fantasy back into reality.
SANDALPHON
It's been a long time. I didn't think I'd ever see you again, not until...
LUCIFER
I'm happy to see you regardless, no matter what. Have you been well?
SANDALPHON
V-Very. I opened up a cafe on the Grandcypher. It's not very large, but it gets customers from time to time. There are so many people coming in and the ship, more than I ever could have imagined meeting back in the garden... I'm also getting fairly decent with coffee, I can even make a few blends of my own now.
LUCIFER
That sounds wonderful. One day, I'd love to try it. Though I imagine that would be a bit of hurdle.
SANDALPHON
(eyes downcast)
I thought about it many times, you know. I never wanted to be Supreme Primarch. After everything was over... I was going to join you. I couldn't imagine life without you.
Lucifer leans forward in his chair, as if he's going to go to Sandalphon, to comfort him. Then his fingers curl back in on themselves, and he remains sitting, heavy with something he can't properly convey.
LUCIFER
I don't deny that I miss you terribly. The thought of you being by my side again is a great comfort. But tearing you from a life you struggled so hard to gain for yourself would be a sin beyond imagine.
SANDALPHON
You say that. But the opposite isn't true, is it?
LUCIFER
Sandalphon?
SANDALPHON
It’s been so long. I can think of five different ways that we can reverse your death! But every time...
(His fists tighten so much that his knuckles turn white. Lucifer sees this, opens his mouth, but says nothing.)
I asked Cagliostro to build you a spare body. It worked for Az and Iss, surely it might be able to work for you. We are never getting your body back... not while Lucilius still lives. Her work was perfect, as always! That wasn’t the issue! But no matter what we did... there was no soul to it. It was just an empty husk. We couldn’t call your spirit to it. I know you heard it, didn’t you?
Lucifer’s silence speaks of both an assent and deep guilt.
SANDALPHON
I thought you wanted to see me.
LUCIFER
(Strongly)
I do! More than anything I do!
Sandalphon looks at him. He has already shed his tears, long ago. Now he sits there, shoulders tight, bracing for some horrible answer, whatever it may be. Lucifer reaches a hand out, trying to broach the space between them, but his arm’s length isn’t long enough to reach Sandalphon. He drops his arm back to his lap, deeply tired with the weight of the truth.
LUCIFER
I am... afraid of living again.
(The admission comes out more as a whisper.)
As the Supreme Primarch, I toiled for centuries keeping the sky in balance. I watched so many things rise and fall from the halls of Canaan. It was my only duty, and even if I was proud of it... I could not breathe. I learned too much. I saw too much. I could only breathe when you were by my side. Without you, I was being suffocated slowly.
Sandalphon just looks at him.
LUCIFER
I did not expect to die when I did. I didn’t want to go before you did. But the moment I woke up in Purgatory, I felt nothing but relief. Finally, I could lay my burdens to rest. I didn’t have to think anymore. Life is a struggle, a beautiful struggle. But I toiled for so long... I am not strong enough to return to that again.
Sandalphon just looks at him.
LUCIFER
I am sorry for being a coward. When I find the strength, I’ll be back by your side once more. But at the moment I... am just so uncertain if I will feel that way again.
SANDALPHON
You don’t need to be. It won’t be that way.
LUCIFER
How are you so sure?
SANDALPHON
Because now, I’ll be there. The sky has so much to offer. I know. I’ve seen it myself. I’m sure what I’ve learned is completely different than what you remember. Do you believe in me?
LUCIFER
I want to.
Sandalphon gets out of his chair, crosses the space, removing the only barrier between them. Standing before Lucifer, he holds his hand out. Lucifer looks at Sandalphon’s hand, like it’s the first time he’s seen it in his life. He looks up to Sandalphon’s face, full of quiet determination, waiting for Lucifer’s answer.
They hold each other’s gaze for a long time. Hesitatingly, Lucifer reaches a hand out. He curls his fingers back, squeezing tight before loosening them once again. His hand in Sandalphon’s is shaky, ready to flee at any moment, but he keeps it there. Sandalphon’s fingers close around his and he pulls Lucifer to his feet.
SANDALPHON
Okay. Let’s go.
Hand in hand, they exit the stage, into the darkness, into the unknown, without saying another word.
FADE OUT.