InsaneJournal

So Shepherd Book was coming up to the lounge to talk to him and Lucifer wasn't sure what had prompted him to extend the invitation other than a fleeting thought that maybe he had some things in common with the preacher. Regardless, he walked out from behind the bar when Book entered and motioned to an actual table before stopping to pick up drinks. A bottle for him and something non-alcoholic for the preacher.

He set the glass down in front of book and asked, "So is this confession time? How's that go? Bless me father, for I have sinned? Or wait! You're meant to be confessing to me this time."

It was more than Book had expected, thinking that he would just sit at the end of the bar and sip water or something while Lucifer barraged him with questions. This, however, was more intimate. Book slid into the booth opposite the devil, taking a sip and impressed that it wasn't alcoholic. He chuckled.
"I'm not sure there's anything to confess. I'm sure you know how it is to have a past that is always with you."

"Oh I don't know, you only mentioned that you killed 4,000 people before. Not the how or the why of it," Lucifer replied casually, pouring himself a glass without taking his eyes off Book. "I think that might be a good place to start, don't you?"

The devil really wasn't one to mince words.

Book ran a hand over his hair, watching Lucifer closely. He should have known the devil would go for the most sensational bit. "I was an undercover agent in a war. There was an ambush."

"And?" Lucifer prompted. That told him next to nothing. "Come on, Padre. I can't read your mind, remember. Give me the details."

"Derriel Book is the name of the man I killed and whose identity I took. After that I infiltrated the Alliance - a military organization - rose through the ranks and then led an operation to destroy independence outposts on six systems. Except each of those was actually an ambush set up for the Alliance. One ship alone lost all 4000 aboard. Hundreds more were captured from other ships. Needless to say, that ended my military career." He took a sip of his drink and looked up at the devil across from him. "That enough details?"

"It would seem so," Lucifer said, taking in all that new information about Book, studying the man intently. "At least you can say you were successful at your mission?" he asked casually,

The devil fell silent for a moment, taking a long drink from his glass and then refilling it. Finally he added rather abruptly, "I killed my brother."

Book looked up from his drink and studied the devil sitting across from him. Even after all his time at the monastery, he never expected to be in this situation. Despite all the confessions he'd heard, this was unexpected. "I didn't know it was possible for angels to die.." he said softly, giving Lucifer the space to say more if he wished.

"Yes well, we can kill each other. And of course my father… and there are other ways but that's neither here nor there," Lucifer replied. "And I only did it because he was threatening my mother and the detective…"

Lucifer paused. "I'd say that's why I drink, but really, I just enjoy drinking."

“Well, you’re not the first man I’ve met who’s fond of his drink. At least you can handle yours.”

Shepherd finished his drink before refilling his glass from Lucifer's bottle and swirling it around. “It’s no easy thing to have a death troubling you.”

Lucifer raised an eyebrow at Shepherd, glancing at the now alcoholic drink in the other man's hand. "Or four thousand of them," he agreed. He wasn't certain how he felt about the preacher taking up drinking on his watch, but he had a strong stance when it came to not denying someone free will.

Shepherd didn't take a drink, just watched the amber liquid swirling in his glass. One could argue that rules and vows didn't apply here in this universe. It'd be easy enough to just give in. "I wouldn't say it troubles me.. Just that I'm always aware of it. I've been to the end of the universe and back .. there are some things you can't run away from."

"Right, Padre," Lucifer commented. He drank his glass down, and then reached over for Book's and slammed it back as well. "I'm not going to give you a chance to let that go to waste," he mentioned.

Standing up, he took both glasses and the bottle, nodding at the other man.

"Well this has been a pleasant chat. Let's do it again sometime!"

Book raised an eyebrow at the devil. "Perhaps next time we can talk about what you're running from."

"On second thought, maybe we shouldn't do this again," Lucifer replied. He didn't give the preacher a chance to respond before heading back behind the bar. He'd at least admit to running from that particular conversation.