Rebel Meeting (Open to all revolutionaries; off-limits to everyone else)

[obsessedrebel]

Lucifer drummed his fingers on the stairway bannister as he made his way down from his personal quarters to the room where, he hoped, the foremost revolutionaries were gathered. They'd have to find another, more formal official meeting place soon, but for now, this would have to do. He heard one of the servants announce him before he even opened

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[obsessedrebel]

Lucifer nodded about the question about emissaries. "As much as I'd like to fight this battle on brute force alone, that probably won't be possible," he said. "We'll need to know their secrets, their strategies, their plans -- even if the Prince and his advisor are idiots, the fact is, not everyone who works for the monarchy is. One of them is scheming against us right now while we're scheming against them -- I want to know who and how."

Lucifer's face was impassive save for his gray, glittering eyes but his voice was firm. There was a sureness to both his words and body language. There nearly always was. The duke went on, "We're going to need people influencing them from the inside, betraying their secrets without giving them any of ours. We need people fighting physically and mentally and as dirty as possible if we want to win."

Lucifer wasn't sure if the monarchy was willing to stoop as low as he was -- part of him wouldn't put it past them, although he hoped they weren't. He knew his victory would be better for the kingdom in the end, and if he had to violate the rules of war to do so, then so be it.

"That's where you and the others like you come in."

[sssauntering]

Crowley nodded, feeling the fear rise up in him again. He was definitely in over his head here. He was used to dealing with egos that could be easily stroked, or overconfident idiots who could be manipulated. Something about Lucifer terrified him, made Crowley feel like he could see right through him despite Crowley's best defenses.

He might not be the best spy. One or two players in the castle knew he had a tendency to spend time with the rebels and had certainly noticed him go missing along with the others. But he wasn't going to tell Lucifer that. He doubted he'd be understanding about it.

"I'm your man, then," he said instead, with a grin. "I know my way around, and I know how to fight dirty."

[obsessedrebel]

Lucifer deliberately remained silent for a beat or two longer than was necessary, wanting to see Crowley's reaction, his unblinking eyes never leaving the other man's face. The man seemed confident enough right now, but the speed at which he adjusted his attitude suggested otherwise. Lucifer was well aware he made people feel like he could see through them; it was a talent he'd spent years cultivating, although natural observance helped.

Lucifer was also rarely understanding about anything.

Reaching out to give the priest's shoulder a squeeze, the dark-haired man finally blinked, smirking a little and said, "Good. I knew I could count on you."

The smirk disappeared and he added, "I can count on you, can't I?" in a low, deadpan voice that made it abundantly clear 'No' was the very wrong answer.

[sssauntering]

Crowley's heart seemed to stop during the pause, but his expression didn't change. Showing fear was an easy way to make yourself a target, and Crowley had learned a long time ago to disguise weakness in front of people like this.

He smiled and when Lucifer squeezed his shoulder, a clever, confident smile, a sharing a secret smile, a the other guy will never know what hit him sort of smile.

And he never flinched. "Of course, my lord."

Because if you can't, I'm dead.

[obsessedrebel]

Apparently approving of Crowley's attitude, Lucifer nodded and his slight smirk returned. "I look forward to your reports, then," he said. "I'm sure they'll prove quite useful." Then he turned to address the group as a whole.