thinking about how Satan lies to be alone with you in his beach UR+ devilgram.

(don't get me wrong, the DG was super-cute, I'm just in the mood for some Angst) +

we all know how straightforward Lucifer is about his intentions if you show romantic interest in him.

"stay the night here," he says.

"let's slip away from my brothers," he says.

he might be evasive about his feelings, but he leaves no room for doubt what he wants. +

none of the brothers do. they fight over you, take turns clinging to you. sometimes, Satan winds up joining into the fray.

but for the most part, he keeps his distance. he's careful not to boss you around. a perfect gentleman, once he's warmed up to you. +

and why wouldn't he be? Satan has spent a lifetime honing his civility, his self-control. and around you, his anger dissipates. there isn't even need for a mask - when you make him smile, it's genuine.

yet, sometimes, he still lies to you. +

it's nothing big, of course. a white lie about how he forgot about the tide trapping you in the cave. another about forgetting his way home while you are on a picnic in the forest. fanning the flames of his brothers' fighting over you so he can look like the calm and sane one. +

if you asked him about it, he would probably just shrug.

"I am a demon, or have you forgotten?"

lies and manipulation are their bread and butter, especially when it comes to humans. fragile humans with their fragile souls, so afraid of the monsters whose help they seek. +

but his brothers are also demons. and you are not just any human to Satan. he is more honest with you than anyone else he has ever known.

yet, even in some kind of romantic relationship, Satan would lie to be alone with you where the others wouldn't. +

perhaps it's because Satan, more than any of his brothers, is mindful of how he's a demon.

he tells you as much, before. the others were angels once, resplendent and proud - but he has only ever been what he is now.

a monster. +

he knows you don't see him that way. but how much of that is because you love him for being that gentleman he learned to be to hide his sin?

if you saw him the way he sees himself - his true nature unconcealed - would you still want him? +

after all, you've only had a taste of what he truly is. Satan has seen the look on humans' faces when they hear his name. when they witness his wrath in full.

it's a look he never wants to see on you. +

so Satan lies. it's easier that way, falling into that old habit of deceit around a human. nothing too big or hurtful, but enough to get his victories where he can find them.

his brothers may want you to return their feelings. they want you to love them as they love you. +

Satan has no such hopes.

all he wants is to be with you. however you will allow it. <fin>

((this thread was inspired by me pondering the differences between how Satan approaches you vs. how Luci usually does it. tbh you could handwave what he does in his DG as just 'lol, Satan is so sly, typical demon stuff', but idk. I had Thoughts about this.))