Ruth
Some days, Luci really questioned his stance on God.
Not in a dramatic, midlife crisis kind of way, but more in a "Someone is clearly doing their best to make me miserable today and is enjoying it" Way.

He'd woken up groggy and discontent that morning, kept awake by the stuffy temperature of his dorm room coupled with the usual clatter and bang of his neighbour's nocturnal habits and had immediately fallen to the floor in a tangle of duvet and limbs with a squawk of surprise that would rival even the most disgruntled seagull. He found his box of teabags empty, coffee too, tripped (twice) on a rug in the hallway with impressively poor grace and had spent the rest of the day being generally inconvenienced by life. 
By the time noon rolled around, Lucifer had all but in word cursed out whatever god was watching over him, giving up on the long list of tasks he'd had planned and deciding it was probably better for his sanity to simply go back to bed., Hoping he could sleep solidly into tomorrow morning when his luck had rightened itself, and his headache had finally disappeared.

He pondered this line of thinking as he sulked his way towards the lifts, deciding the stairs were probably too treacherous a journey today, feeling his way down the panel before jamming his finger on the call button more times than necessary and an extra ding for good measure when the lift didn't appear within the next 5 seconds. He stepped back then, tucking his cane on his arm and shoving his hands under his armpits with a shiver. On par with the rest of the day he'd been having, the morning had started off wonderfully mild, not too hot or cold, and quickly gone downhill when dark clouds clawed their way across the sky, throwing fat drops of water to the ground, soaking everything in minutes and dragging the temperature down several degrees, even inside. Luce had stupidly forgone his jacket earlier that day, opting to head out in nought but a clean black shirt and brown slacks, both of which were now sticking uncomfortably to his skin.
Hydne grumbled irritably on his shoulder, looking particularly scruffy with their feathers clumped and soggy, beady eyes squinting as if they too had an unfortunate headache, though being smacked by a closing door earlier in the day probably wasn't all that pleasant.

"Stop complaining, you chicken," 
Luce sighed wearily, angling his head slightly towards them.
"We're nearly back, and your waffling on won't get us there any faster. You don't even have to do any of the leg work."
Hydne made a harsh noise, almost like they were insulted, burrowing their head further into their chest and earning yet another eye-roll before being ignored as the slow rumble of the elevator caught the man's attention. Finally, in 5 minutes, he'd be wrapped in his softest fleece, burrowed under as many blankets as he could find. Maybe he could even brave the kitchen for some popcorn.
Ryan
It was no surprise why Uriel did not like the stairs. 

Truthfully, *Did not like* Was a bit of an understatement. They detested their methodical, downward drops, every corner of every step a potential hazard for when they'd inevitably fall asleep and tumble down, down down to the ground. It was a bit of a childish fear, though, and so Uriel opted to keep their mouth shut when discussing such things. The only remnant of said fear was their steeled resolve to take the lift whenever available.

And so, like every other not-quite-morning, Uriel finished brewing a cup of tea from the downstairs kitchen (another hazard— if they passed out, they could potentially spill the boiling liquid on them) and sleepily pressed the elevator call button. 

*The elevator was taking too long*, the slight delay in the elevator's motion causing their eyebrows to furrow ever-so-slightly. Hopefully, no one else was awake at this hour; while Uriel was still dressed in their everyday clothing, they always found it awkward to make small talk while trapped in the small confines of the elevator. 

*Ding.*

Empty. *Thank god.* Uriel gets in the elevator, and presses the button to go back to their floor. 

The relief quickly vanishes, however, as they come to a stop before their floor arrives. *Someone else, then.* They think, a little nervous. 

*Let's hope its someone not too nervewracking.* It's the only thought that comes to mind as the elevator doors slide open to reveal...

[also my writing quality will pick up dw]
Ruth
Finally, after what felt like decades, the door to the lift creaked open, the ding of the button announcing its arrival shrilly.
Many assumed that due to his lack of vision, Lucifer was easy to startle, sneak up on or generally unaware of his surroundings. That wasn't true, in fact it wasn't true for most visually impaired people. The truth is most people don't realise how noisy they are in day to day, how strong their deodorant is, and as Luce leaned towards the door, turning his head slightly, he didn't hear the usual scuffle of feet on the rubber floor or breath that always echoed noisily on the metal walls. Empty.

Thank god.

It wasn't that Lucifer disliked people, he loved socialising, truly, but his appearance was and always had been a matter of pride, and his current 'wet poodle' look was rather embarrassing, the quicker he could get into his room and under the covers, the better.

With a breath, he moved his grip on the cane, lifting it away from the ground snf stepping into the lift, finding the back corner and stuffing himself into it, shivering slightly at the cold material leeching what warm remained from his arms. He pressed the button for his floor quickly, having already memorised its spot on the wall from previous rides, and settled more solidly into his nook, pushing up his glasses to rub at his the bridge of hid node tiredly with one hand before simply laying it over his eyes, noting the sizable bags starting to form on the scarred skin. God he needed to get more sleep.

Ever since his... Odd interaction with another parahuman on the group chat, he'd begun sleeping even less than usual, popping off for an hour or two before being woken by nightmares or, more often, the sound of footsteps passing his door. And each time he did awake, he feared it was that other kid, Uriel? Outside his door, maybe taking a peek into his dreams, or worse his memories. He wasn't entirely sure of the others powers but it was certainly enough to put him on edge.

For perhaps the 5th time that day, Lucifer experienced a moment in which he felt the need to drop to his knees, and plead to the dear lord above to please, give him a moments respite, as the sound of the elevator slowing, and the doors popping open with a cheering 'ding!' signalling the arrival of another passenger was enough to convince him that maybe hell *Was* Real afterall.
Ryan
There was someone in the elevator with them. 

A nervous glace at the open doors, and they watch with a pallid gaze as a person steps into the elevator. Even with their albino vision, the identity of the other is instantly recognizable— a shock of white hair, circular rose-tinted glasses resting upon a pale face. It was the same face attached to the intranet handle Uriel had an... Odd encounter with. They'd be lying if they hadn't been nervously scanning crowds of people for that striking face, more out of curiosity than fear of the other.

Their encounter had been awkward, yes, but... Lucifer didn't seem like a *Threat* Per se. 

Lucifer presses a button to (presumably) his floor, and stands in the corner... The same corner *Uriel* Was currently in, making the other press against the elevator wall to avoid touching the blind man. 

Uriel wasn't planning on saying anything— small talk wasn't their strong suit, and the elevator ride would only be a couple of seconds at most. However, life apparently had *Other* Plans. 


"Um. Excuse me.", A brief, panicked stutter rushes from their lips, as Uriel leans as far back as they can without losing balance. "Sorry I'm— um, do you mind moving over please...?"

It didn't seem as if the other saw them, in Lucifer's defense. Still, they internally winced at having to speak up from directly behind. Were they that hard to miss...?
Ruth
For several seconds upon stepping into the elevator, Lucifer thought his only company was Hydne and the uncomfortable squelch of his shoes, but in his defence, he was still trying to dislodge what must've been the entire contents of Lake Superior from his eardrums, and the clothing plastering itself to every part of his body really didn't help in his distraction.
So when a quiet voice from behind him spoke up, Lucifer was quite entitled to the rather shrill noise that came out his mouth in tandem with the sudden lurch away from the wall he'd decided to occupy, which resulted in a rather loud clang as his elbow jerked out against the metal, followed then by a literary of swears, both English and otherwise, culminating in a final, quiet "Fuck" As he rubbed at his elbow, hunched rather pathetically by the door, water still squishing audibly in his shoes.
In the sudden chaos, his bird had been woken from their light doze and dropped rather unceremoniously onto the floor, where they sat, wings ajar looking like a discarded dishcloth, or maybe an old used feather brush.
"Cnych- ow, I'm really sorry, I didn't know you were there, uh, sorry"
Lucifer had regained some of his composure by now, red faced as he was, and he took a moment to fix his glasses, which had fallen from one eat, skewing themselves across his face, and then to tug at his shirt sleeves, perhaps in an attempt to look more presentable.

"It's this rain, it uh, it makes it really had to concentrate when you're half drowned... Hah... Uh"
He trailed off rather lamely, met with silence, and he took this quiet to swiftly collect his ratty animal, sitting them on the rail by the door. As he did so, the beady white eyes of the bird shifted, until dark pupil's fixed themselves on the other occupant.
Immediately Lucifers easy, yet awkward smile slid off his face like wet paint, though within a second he had fought to settle it back in place, even if it appeared a little tight, his brows still furrowed.
Oh.. That's who the other inhabitant was.
Lucifer had never seen Uriel before, obviously, but he knew the number of albino students at the school was rather limited, and the vague description he'd gotten from other people when he'd asked around matched the figure before him perfectly, long white hair and a distant expression that makes the hairs on his neck stand up straight, and even though he can't see the other with his own eyes, he unconsciously shifts his head down and to the side, as if eager to escape the look cast his way.

"Oh! Uhm, Uriel right? Fancy running into you here- I mean, we both have our dorms here but, uh... Hm it's old women and sticks out there isn't it? Right proper downpour, nice change I suppose-from all the heat"
He nodded rather quickly, shaking water droplets from his hair onto the floor.
"Uh, sorry"
Ryan
They do nothing as Lucifer *Jolts* Away from them, injuring himself in the process. Not out of a lack of concern, mind you— in fact, their face quickly morphs into that of mild worry once the rapid succession of events catches up to their delayed brain. 

"Oh, yes, Lucifer. I recognized your face from the intranet conversation we had. You're quite striking, after all." Uriel gives a small smile at the other, one meant to reassure the other about their intentions than any actual happiness at Luci's misfortune. 

"You looked scared. My apologies, but don't worry. I'm perfectly harmless. Just at an unfortunate place in an unfortunate time, it seems to be." Uriel trails off slightly, as Luci shakes his head and buckets of water spray on the ground from his sopping wet hair. 

Now that Uriel had known Lucifer's powers, they were less apprehensive about whatever potential the other had. It was evident Lucifer had his secrets, given his cagey nature and panic at their abilities, but everyone at the Cradle seemed to carry a skeleton or two trapped inside their closet. So long as the two weren't burdened with the same inherited weight, however, Uriel made sure to draw a firm line between their business and other people's. 

It was the least they could do, considering how often they've eavesdropped on people's traumas. Despite their intentions, life always seemed determined to make them an unwilling witness.

"Is your, um, bird... Alright?" A small step, frozen in whether approaching the other would be seen as a kindness or a condemnation, if taking the initiative would do more harm than good. 

It was an interesting creature, Uriel would have to admit, slowly swiveling their head to face the creature head-on. Even looking directly at the snow-white bird, they still seemed to be looking *Through* It, as if making eye contact with something only Uriel could see. 

"It's very cute." They mutter under their breath. "What's its name?"
Ruth
"What?"
Lucifer asked dumbly, taking a moment to realise the inquiry was aimed at his raven, it caught him off guard. People often commented on his strange companion, though it tended to be mild interest, and it wasn't often anyone saw them as their own item instead of just an extention-or trinket of Luci's. It was... Refreshing.
"Hydne? Yeah, don't worry about them, drowned Street rat is their usual look" He explained, tilting his head vaguely in the direction of the bird in question, who mimicked the action, though kept Uriels steady eye contact with unwavering Skill.
While the bird was unperturbed by the eye contact, Lucifer couldn't help but retract his powers, letting Hydnes eyes return to a milky white once more, immediately their attention snapped else where like a puppet cut loose, reaching back to preen at their feathers quietly.

Lucifer reveled in the sudden lack of sight. Something about Uriels gaze made him feel exposed, like they knew something he didn't. He frowned, quickly shaking off the thought and forcing himself to relax, one hand coming up to fiddle with his necklace as he lifted his head, turning his face back to the other, no longer cowed by the knowing looks.
He had to admit they... Were far less imposing in person. Maybe it was the smaller height or the cup of tea clasped warmly in their hands sending a gentle aroma around the space. Either way, Lucifer almost questioned his worry for a second, surely they couldn't be all that dangerous right?
"It's uh, it's good to meet you in person finally, I think we got off on the wrong foot, bad first impressions" He paused
"Not that I thought badly of you! Just, you know, texting, it's not great for uh, Tone and..."
He waved his hand vaguely in the air as if that finished his sentence.

"Sorry again, I nearly stepped on you hah, this one time I-"
Whatever chatter Lucifer was about to make was cut off abruptly by a loud groan from the lift, like metal on metal or the catching of gears. The floor shuddered, giving one final heave before it stopped rather suddenly, causing Luci to grab onto the rail.
"I've never heard it make that noise before, maybe it needs maintance"
He muttered, turning to face the door, ready to escape the conversation, even if it wasn't his floor, he could just take the stairs.
He waited. And waited. And the doors didn't open, nor did the button ping, he reached toward to tap the door and- yep, still closed. Oh dear.
Ryan
Uriel bends down onto their haunches. They slowly extend a gloved hand towards Hydne, cooing softly at the creature. They've always found it easier to talk to animals than people; animals seemed to operate on a more basic set of rules, while humans were *Complicated*, equipped with nuance and denial and all sorts of nasty emotions animals didn't have the intelligence to possess.

"No worries. I do apologize for being paranoid. The pool of albino parahumans is larger than I thought, so it seems. Please do forgive me for being so... Cryptic." Uriel smiled at the other, waving away the slight on the intranet with a tiny gesture. It all... Seemed so *Small*, the history of interaction between the two already fading into the fog of their mind. They might have gotten off on the wrong foot, but did that mean the two couldn't win the race? Perhaps that thought didn't make sense to anyone else, but it did to Uriel.

Grinding, loud metal. Uriel presses the *Open door* Button multiple times, and yet nothing happens.

"Ah. We're... Stuck here." They cup their cheek, sighing loudly.

A beat. Two. The grinding of gears sounded painful against the metal elevator shaft, and the LED display above the door began to glitch out as the elevator stopped with a sudden halt.

"...Oh dear. Perhaps it's fate. Do you believe in such a thing? I do. " Uriel lets out one last sigh before sitting on the elevator floor, seemingly unperturbed by the sudden stop. 

"I do wonder... What glorious thing will come of our meeting, that the Universe decided to intervene in such a way?" A small, polite laugh. They were smiling now, eyes open wide at the sudden, unexpected turn of events. A coincidence like this couldn't mean *Nothing*— fate? Destiny, even? Strings just now snapping taut as both ends are pulled? The potential guiding hand of the Universe personally blessing Uriel with her caring, gentle hand made their face blossom into that of a small grin.

"Lucifer. Join me, will you? It seems someone's decided we have much to discuss."

Uriel sits down on the ground, criss-cross. How interesting.
Ruth
"Feels like fate has been chasing me around all day"
Lucifer muttered bitterly, reaching towards the control panel and feeling for the call button. He pressed down on the button a number of times before realising that it wasn't working, great.

"Must be an electrical problem"
He muttered, crouching down in front of the door and sticking his fingers between the gaps in an attempt to Jimmy it open, but predictably it didn't even budge.
He tried for another few minutes, pointedly ignoring Uriels invite, instead jamming his fingers in every single button, trying to pry the doors and reach up towards the ceiling to feel for a catch, maybe some way out, but nothing.

Eventually, with an exasperated sigh he dropped down opposite Uriel, unlike the other he sat rather rigidly, back against the wall and his legs bent, arms resting against his knees, one hand rubbing absentmindedly at the indents along the tattoo on his wrist as Hydne hopped down and padded towards Uriel, they seemed to have almost shrunk, the puffed up feathers flattening down in a more relaxed manner, head bent to the side curiously in inspection, stopping about a foot away to eye them up.

"At least its warm in here, I think my shirts finally drying"
A pause,
"You're a believe in that-fate and stuff? Destiny and all that malarkey?" He queried, genuinely curious
"I didn't really take you for the type, not that I know you I guess. If this is fates idea of a joke I'd like words with whoevers in charge"
Lucifer lowered his head, pulling his glasses from his face and letting them dangle from their chain, digging the heels of his hands into his sockets with a ragged breath. He considered the situation he was in and let out a small giggle, maybe his parents were right, hell was a thing, maybe he'd got hit by a car earlier or something and his eternal punishment was being stuck in a tiny metal box with a cryptic bastard who could read his mind or whatever they could do, though he'd rather take the promised fire and brimstone at this point. Pitchforks and all.
Ryan
"We should probably call for help, then. Perhaps Graham would be able to fix our situation?" Uriel wondered out loud, but made no move to actually *Text* Graham or do anything to help while Lucifer scrambled around the elevator looking for an exit. 

Lucifer was right. It *Was* Hot in here, the cramped, enclosed space only making the lack of air conditioning and the summer heat bouncing around the hot metal worse. They pull their purple poncho over their head with a sigh as their long, white braid gets slightly undone by the motion, and sit upon the piece of fabric. 

Now with a newfound cushion to pad against the hard elevator floor and only in their staple white button-down nightshirt and gloves, Uriel looks to the other. It seems the steam that'd been fueling Lucifer had finally run out of energy, as he takes a seat across from them.

"Of course I believe in fate. It's a comforting idea— given an option, I don't see why someone *Wouldn't* Opt to believe in it. I... Don't exactly know what you mean by 'that type', but I'll take it to be a compliment, I suppose." Their face softens upon talking about the subject, eyes glazing over and face blossoming into a smile for a brief moment.

A small frown graced their face upon seeing Lucifer's disheveled state. Was the other claustrophobic, perhaps? It was worth asking.

"Are you... Quite alright, Lucifer?" A small shift, as Uriel gets on their knees to look at the boy closer. "Is the tight space getting to you? I hope this situation isn't spurring any latent claustrophobia."
Ruth
"I've always found not being able to see the space I'm in negates any claustrophobic feelings. Hard to fear small spaces when you can't even tell how small the space is.
A lot of things are a lot less scary, the dark, for instance, though I'm not a fan of thunder"
A pause,
"What, you going to tell me you're afraid of nothing or something? I guess with your powers you've probably seen way too much weird stuff, desensitisation and all"
He meant the comment as a joke, but it fell flat at the pinched expression on his face, as if talking about their powers was equivalent to chewing glass, and he seemed to pull his legs a little closer to the wall.
He wasn't claustrophobic in the slightest, if anything, he'd always preferred small spaces, anywhere he could feel the walls around him, able to tell where he was, count the inches from one side to another, safe in the knowledge that for that moment it was just him, safe and in complete control.

"I've always disliked that idea- that someone else has any say in my life, it's mine, so I should be able to control it, y'know? If fate is true, or God -whatever, what's the point of doing anything"
He shifted, rubber soles squeaking on the floor as he shifted to tug a button or two loose and peeling his shirt away from his collarbones.
"I've had enough of people telling me what I can and can't do for a lifetime"

 Lucifer took a moment then, listening to the breaths collected between them as he fiddled with his buttons aimlessly before jolting slightly, reaching into his trouser pockets to pull out his battered old phone and earbuds, sticking one in his ear and lifting the deceive up and waving it around in an attempt to get service with no luck
"Right, Faraday cage effect and all that" He muttered, letting the device clatter to the floor aimlessly.
"You're awfully calm, we could be stuck in here for hours you know that right, you got something in that tea you want to share with the group?"
Ryan
"Aha, afraid of nothing? Oh, no, don't worry. Much like most humans, I have a laundry list of fears." Uriel sticks out a gloved hand to their side, counting on their fingers. 

"Heights. Water. Stairs. Sharp objects. Being moved when I sleep. Myself, to an extent. Actually, I'm afraid of quite a lot of things, no? It's a bit embarrassing, actually." They sheepishly cup their back of their neck, an embarrassed laugh instinctively fluttering up from their lungs.

"Ah... You're nervous for that reason, then. Hm... I don't want to lie to you, and make any false promises or sugar-coated truths that don't actually hold up to inspection, so I won't bother. Instead... I suppose you should be reassured that there are people here who could kill you if they desired, so someone like me shouldn't be too nerve-wracking in the grand scheme of things. Besides, look at me."

Uriel stretches their arm out, showcasing a physique more akin to 'skin and bones' than anything human.

"Physically, I'm rather weak, so... I couldn't exactly fight back against you. Not that I'd try to do such a thing, anyway." 

They watch with large, owlish eyes at Lucifer's response, considering his perspective with a hand cupping their chin. It seemed to strike a nerve with the other, a thought that brought considerable pause to Uriel. They've always considered Fate to be a savior, a grand escape, but... Lucifer seeing Fate as a *Cage* More than anything made them hesitate in silence for a moment, visibly confused.

"This tea? It's just green tea. The way I see it, we're either rescued, and I was worried for nothing..."

 "...Or we eventually die here, and it's suddenly not my problem anymore. "

A tiny laugh. Uriel stretches their back, a multitude of tiny *Crack* Sounds coming from their wound muscles as they once again settle to lean against the elevator wall.

"Not that I think something like that will happen, of course." They hastily tack on that reassurance, more for Lucifer's sake than their own.
Ruth
The look on Lucifer's face could only be described as dumbfounded, utterly flawed at the words spoken to him. He was so surprised it took him several seconds for the words to sink in, followed quickly by dread and quite a heavy dose of nausea, and his head immediately dropped between his knees with a small noise of discomfort.

"Jesus H. Christ, you've got a real knack with words you know, a real way."

He sprang back up then, nervous energy with vigour as he moved again to scour the control panel.
"Why would you say that, god, there might be an emergency latch, y'know, to open the doors maybe?"
As that line of questioning proved fruitless, he smacked the side of the panel with force before pacing the limited width of space. His previously wet hair had begun to dry and by now was beginning to stick up wildly, worsened by the hands running through it.

"That wasn't nearly as comforting as you seem to think it is, I don't really plan on dying today, thank you very much, and for the record, I'm not afraid of you, I just" He flapped his arm around rather aggressively, searching for an explanation be couldn't give, or maybe trying to convince himself of his words.
"It's a little unnerving, alright? I like my thoughts to be kept private, dreams too, I don't really appreciate the idea of being stuck in here with some- some nutter who can apparently see exactly what I'm thinking about!"
Lucifer didn't often raise his voice above a polite tone, maybe a little squeaky when he was embarrassed, but he never shouted, bad manners and all, but it came out surprisingly loud.
He seemed immediately regretful of his words, having stopped pacing and turned towards his companion, face warming to an impressive pink tinge as he dropped back down again to his previous spot on the floor, covering his face.

"I'm sorry" He admitted genuinely.
"I don't think you're uh, a nutter, your powers aren't your fault I know that... It's just been a bad day, I'm taking it out on you, I'm sorry. Jesus"
He laughed quietly, a strained, awkward giggle hidden behind his hand, though nothing about the situation could be deemed funny.
Ryan
"Don't worry. I'm sure Graham will be up soon." *Finally,* Uriel takes out their phone, sending a quick PM to the impromptu handyman of the Cradle before stuffing their phone back into their pocket. 

They listened with feverish intensity at Lucifer's outburst, humming to themselves as the boy's voice grew louder and louder. Instead of getting angry, though, they give two soft pats on the other's shoulder. 

"You're far from the first person to react like that. Don't feel bad— you're only human, after all. Of course you'd value your privacy, and get nervous at people unjustly peering where they don't belong. You don't have to apologize for being human." Uriel's voice is low, soothing— like a mother gently reassuring a child, doing their best to validate Lucifer's fears. 

They *Were* Valid, and Uriel had no refutation for any unjust assumptions thrown their way. There was no excuse, no misunderstanding that could prevent Uriel's entire existence from being an affront to the concept of personal privacy. 

They were stuck like this, forever a boogeyman, a nasty 'what if?' that haunted the minds of the Cradle residents while they slept. 

*Somethings never changed*, they mused. 

"Your powers... " Uriel starts up again, snapping themselves out of their stupor. "You said you can see through people's eyes, right? Could I perhaps... See how that feels? I'm a bit curious. You said it was a bit of a privacy invasion over the Intranet, but... I don't view it that way. It seems handy, is all." 

They smile at the other.
Ruth
He nodded along to Uriel's words, evening out his breathing and slow as molasses, began to uncurl from his uncomfortable position, moving instead to subconsciously mimick Uriel's
"You remind me of my brother"
It was spoken more softly now, with a gentle nod, as he spoke, fingering at his necklace.
"You're both absolutely terrible at pep talk for sure... But I guess there are worse people to be stuck in here with. Like Hatzume- she's such a lovely girl but I dread idea of being stuck in a room with her for more than an hour, I think she'd start hunting me for sport"
Hydne had finally crawled out from where they'd been hidden by Uriel, tucking their body close to Lucifer as he raised his hand to her head, obscuring her for a moment, though she seemed to have vanished when he lifted it again, like she was never there to begin with.

Lucifer perked his head when they spoke again, parting their lips as if to speak several times before settling on a lame;
"Uh, sure, I mean, if you'd like"
He offered a hand out, palm up towards the ceiling
"If you've got anything, uh an object, something important to you. Something of personal value"
He explained, he'd never been asked if he could use his powers on someone, and for a moment it dawned on him the humorous realisation that maybe their powers weren't so dissimilar to one another's at least not to other people. Both were seen as a violation, some uncomfortable experience that left people a little more cold, a little more distant when they found out, and immediately another wave of guilt wazhed over him for his bullheaded rudeness.

"I don't know how your powers work, but for me it doesn't work through touch, more like uh, psychometry I guess"
Ryan
"I-I do?" Uriel's demeanor instantly changes upon being compared to Lucifer's sibling. A wide, almost dopey smile blooms on their face, and Uriel giddily giggles to themself. 

Someone sees them *Like a sibling.* How utterly saccharine! A warmth arose in their stomach, and Uriel claps their hands together.

"I don't have any siblings of any kind which might be for the best, but... Ah, but I've always dreamed of having a silbling or two! What a wonderful thing to say." 

At the mention of limits, Uriel's expression turns thoughtful. Lucifer's condition was certainly *Interesting*, but... Did they have anything that could fit his criteria on them?

"My powers? There's not a physical limit, actually— more of a mental one. My mom still manages to see me when I sleep, even though she's all the way in France. It's certainly handy." 

Words swish around in their cheek as Uriel attempts to communicate a very *Not-logical* Concept into spoken language. Their eyebrows furrow, and... 

"I suppose the more *Meaningful* A person is, the easier it is to reach them. But it does help if I've met them in person." Uriel tentatively settles on that definition, biting back the jumbled, confused mess of words and metaphors they usually use. 

Uriel's hands work their way towards their braid, and they slowly remove the hair tie clasping their waves of white hair in place. When they do, their curly, wispy hair falls all the way to their waist, and Uriel brushes a few unruly strands with their fingers before offering the hair tie to Lucifer.

"Ah, but... This should do. My mom gave me these hair ties before I left, so I treasure them dearly." They say, clasping their lavender hair tie in his hand. As they do so, their white hair bounces with movement.
Ruth
"I've got eight of the little brats, all brothers, all younger"
He ducked his head, his hair hiding the light from the elevator, showing the glint of his eyes beneath the lenses of his glasses. A chuckle escapes him as his usually vague stare becomes focused, eyes crinkling exposing the beginnings of crows feet as he smiles gently.
"The second oldest, he's got to be 16 by now, I haven't seen him in some time. He wore his hair in a braid too, he was always quiet, calm, most of the time at least"
Lucifer seems lost for a moment, far away, the land still resting palm up before him slackening slightly before, with the tiniest of shakes he is back in the lift with them, lifting his head back into the light, whatever emotion was present in his gaze obscured once more.

He listens carefully to Uriel's words, suprised at their admittance, surely it must take tremendous skill to be able to talk to those so far away, but then again, Lucifer had never tested his own abilities. He nods in understand at their words though
"I suppose emotion must hold some kind of ability when it comes to powers. I can only use items that have meaning to their owner, different to you but, maybe theres some stock in it. The power of love or whatever, hah"
He lifted his free hand, rubbing at his chin in thought before settling it over the red markings at the hollow of his throat, messing with the collar of his shirt, unable to keep his hands still it seemed.

Lucifer let Uriel drop the hair-ties into his hand, surprised by how light they felt, physically at least. Mentally they felt far more weighted, heavy with a mixture of emotions, some he could name, others.. He couldn't quite. With an unusual level of care, he bought the ties closer, closing his hand around them loosely.
"Sorry, this might feel a little weird, most people find it uncomfortable"

He closed his eyes a moment, brow furrowing in concentration, immediatley light began to bleed into his sight, slowly as usual, but it didn't form as neatly as it normally did, he found himself looking at the world slightly blurred, like staring through an unfocused lense.
"Bad eyes huh?"
He joked and as he did, he felt Uriel's eyes then land on him. He was unable to control where people looked when he used their sight, a slightly annoying irk at times, but he'd grown used to it. He took in his own dishevled and slightly soggy state and pulled a face immediatley, he really needed a shower, desperately.
Ryan
"He sounds wonderful." Uriel muttered at the description of Lucifer's brother. *Eight* Siblings? Uriel could hardly imagine such a thing. Was Lucifer ever lonely, or did his family size prevent the intrusive isolation from creeping into his bones like a winter chill? 

Lucifer closes his eyes, and Uriel feels something over their shoulder, no, not over their shoulder, *In their eyes*, a foreign presence worming its way through their corneas and hijacking their senses. They instinctively shudder, palm of their gloved hands rubbing at their eyes until the sensation fades, foreign presence making itself home in their brain. 

"You're right." They groan. "It is... Rather uncomfortable, but I'm getting used to it." 

Now with Lucifer... *In them*, Uriel supposed, they scoot closer to the now unoccupied body in front of them, prodding at the other's cheek. 

"Do your eyes move when you're in this state? Like how eyes flicker when you dream?" Uriel asks, looking into the other's eyes. "Can you move your limbs while you're spectating me, or is your body a shell? Can you even reply to my questions out-loud, or are your thoughts transmitted to my brain?" 

The more questions Uriel has, the faster their voice comes out, child-like curiosity shining through their thick accent. 

"Ah, but..." They pause, sheepishly catching their breath. "If that's too many questions, feel free to ignore me. I don't want to be impolite, is all."
Ruth
Lucifer caught their had with a previously unseen level of dexterity. His own hand coming up just as the other had neared his cheek and gently tapping it away with the back of a hand, face splitting into a broad grin, bringing with it the return of his crows feet and dimples.

"I haven't *Gone* Anywhere" He explained, shifting to crack his neck and roll his shoulders, before moving oddly, like one might when checking themselves in the mirror.
"I'm just... Borrowing your eyes for the minute, my mind is still up here" He tapped at his skull, pausing to carefully rearrange his hair, making it appear less like a mangy cat took a nap on his head, and more like his usual messy mullet, not really much of an improvement, more of a birds nest now, but he seemed contented.

"I assume you're powers are little more invasive- uh, I don't mean that in a rude way of course, for me it's like... I don't really know how to explain it, maybe a vr headset? I've never used one but the concept sounds similar. This doesn't really take too much effort, not when its not illusionary, but it feels weird for both parties, especially if I've never done it with them before, everyones minds are different, though- I'm sure you know that. Once I've done it a couple of times that feeling will go, kind of."

His eyes opened then, though half lidded, almost sleepy looking, but they focused on Uriels own as he removed his glasses, revealing glossy, scarred skin and stark white eyelashes, though they were patchy in some areas, missing lashes where the scarring was particularly prevalent.

He frowned then, peering intently and leaning closer to them.

"Sorry its just, um-" He tapped at the edge of his own eye, turning his head this way and that.

"Have I got something in eye?"
Ryan
They listen intently to Lucifer's explanation, humming along in interest at the other's metaphor. 

"Like a little bird on my shoulder. I suppose you never have any issues needing a mirror, right?" 

Uriel giggles at their own joke, even if it isn't particularly funny. 

"Of course you have something in your eye. The eyes are windows to the soul, after all. Saying you have nothing in your eye would be saying you didn't have a soul, and... Well, wouldn't that be depressing?" They swing their legs back, scooting away from Lucifer to roll up their fallen sleeves. It really was getting warm in the elevator, the air conditioning stopping alongside the elevator's movement. Hopefully, they'd be rescued before being cooked alive. 

"Their minds tell me things through their eyes, and I listen. Although... You're not currently emotional enough for me to catch wind of anything. I suppose it means this situation isn't making you panic too badly, which is a relief." 

It was an odd topic to discuss with Lucifer, especially given the boy's wariness of them. Only Owen knew about that quirk of their ability, and they weren't too keen on rumors spreading through the Cradle that was already rampant with gossip. 

Perhaps they should have given it more pause, but Lucifer could see through their eyes. Acting coy about it would only seem more suspicious, and Uriel wasn't one to lie. 

"It's like sewing. The needle on the other side is too blunt to poke through the fabric, but once it's sharp enough and makes a hole, you can see through. Even if it's a tiny little peephole, it's just enough to see what sharpened that needle." They cheerfully clap their hands together, as if concluding a school lesson. 

"Although... I'd prefer if you didn't mention that to other people. I'd rather not have the school afraid of making eye contact with me."
Ruth
"My lips are sealed"
He mimed the metaphor with his hand, pursing his mouth and pinching his fingers, moving them along the length of his face, the effect slightly diminished as his tight smile morphed into a tooth filled one.
Despite this, he subconsciously subverted his gaze, moving to stare off to the left of Uriel's torso, his eyes flickering between that invisible spot and Uriels eyes several times over, clearly unsure of how he should behave, wanting to show Uriel that he did not fear them, even if in some way he did. His smile remained, though his eyebrows knitted together the severity of their furrow usually hidden under their shades as they battled with some unseen decision.
"I uh, I wasn't a kind person when I was younger, I did some things I'm not proud of, didn't appreciate what I had" 
His voice started off brave, but slowly waverred, barely above a mutter at the end of his sentence as he picked at one of his shoe laces.
"That's why I am- *Was* Afraid of you. I dream about... Well I dream about my family, my old life, things I did. Should've done,... I try every day to try and be a little better of a person than who I was, but it doesn't mean I want people to see, I'm ashamed by it really"

He used to relish his dreams and nightmares, they were his last tether to those he loved, sometimes he swore he heard his brothers voices, felt their hands in his his, or simply felt their presence beside him, flickers of their faces from his youth, soft and smiling in some glossy, gentle light. But realistically he knew it wasn't real, he didn't remember his brothers faces, certainly he didn't remember their smiles, and perhaps he didn't deserve to, his punishment for their abandonment, for letting them down.

Then, breaking eye contact with them he bowed his head, closing his eyes and with carefull hands, deposited the hairties back into Uriel's own, letting the blurry image he had fade back to its usual muddied mixture of dark tones as his grip on Uriels vision dissolved.

"I can tell you loved your mother" He admitted
"Emotion gives an item a kind of weight, they *Feel* Loved, cherished... What is she like?"
Ryan
"Of course you are afraid of me. There's no need to hide it, don't worry." A small laugh, and Uriel resists the urge to pat Lucifer's head. They've never seen a tense change be so noble, and yet so in vain. It was a bit cute, actually— people lying for their sake always made them feel fuzzy inside.

"Ah... Well, I doubt you'll take me up on this offer, but if you ever want to have a happy dream like the ones you desire, I am always around to assist." The syllables just escape their lips and dance on the stale elevator air before Uriel interrupts themself with a gasp. Lucifer's eyes exit from their own, ominous presence looming over their shoulder receding into fog once again, and they cough. 

If they look over their shoulder a couple of times, just to make sure the presence is actually gone, they don't acknowledge it.

"My mother? She's a wonderful person. She's smart, hardworking, and kind. But most of all is she's strong."

Uriel takes a long pause to reminisce about their mother. Sophie Melancon was a *Strong* Woman, even at five foot. Memories of her crackly smoker voice reading them bedtimes stories while brushing their hair made themselves known, and Uriel let the warm wave of emotion embrace them just like she'd do before school.

"I think the thing I admire the best about her is... How much effort she puts into everything. She had to work many jobs to provide for us, and yet... She insisted on taking her breaks to walk me home from school when it became unsafe for me to be alone." Another fond memory, of child hand in her working calloused one ." She gave her all in raising me, even though I was... Difficult. You mentioned being an unkind child? I wasn't a mean child, but I was certainly a handful."

Uriel shudders, an unpleasant expression on their face.

"Ah, although now that you have me on the topic, I'm far more interested in your family and how you used to be. It seems far more interesting, with that many siblings. Like something from a book, *Non?*"
Ruth
He shook his head
"I appreciate the offer but I'd rather ride them out myself, I don't think I'd ever make peace with myself if I didn't"
He listened to Uriels words, picturing their mother in his mind, or trying to. Imagining what it must've have been like, to come home to a comforting face, a warm hug, the knowledge you were cared for and loved
"You're one of the lucky ones, to have a mother who loves you so, even if you struggled. My mother is- well she's not really much of anything I suppose"
He hadn't intended to go into any further detail, even at Uriels questioning. Lucifer pulled his knees just a little closer to his body, fingers gripping the fabric of his trousers, clearly preparing to shut himself off with another vague answer, but something gave him pause.

Uriel had trusted him with one of their own secrets, they'd been nothing but open and honest, maybe it wasn't fair to not give it back, not after they had laid themselves open for him to prod and poke and question.


"My parents were religious. Very religious"
He began unsure how to put is family's odd behaviour into words, before deciding maybe it didn't need any more context than that
"My mother didn't ever really lift a hand to help care for my siblings, so it was mostly down to me, and my father he-"
The air felt just a little heavier then as Lucifer squeezed his eyes closed, casting out memories that had begun to surface, memories he usually only had to deal with in the privacy of his own company.

"He died"
Lucifer admitted, eyes still screwed closed, but his tone was dark, bitter. A tone clearly reserved only for the man himself, steely cold and aggressive. A new expression dawned on his face then, at first glance it could've been mistaken for a face of indifference, but there was a slight grimace to it, a tension, an **Anger** Simmering under his skin, far more than should rightly be attributed to a parents demise.
"But he was enough of a bastard before he went to last a lifetime... But i inhertited that too I guess"

"I wasn't any better, I wasn't a good brother"
Luce practically forced the words out.

"Sometimes I kid myself into thinking I was but, I wasn't. I was cruel, I'd say things just to hurt them, I'd turn a blind eye if they were being punished, I stopped helping them, comforting them, I-" He stopped appruptly, voice cracking as he took a moment to collect himself, swallowing audibly around the stone that seemed to have settled in his throat.

"I think by the time I left I was so wrapped up in myself that I didn't even think about them, I didn't even say goodbye before I went, left them to deal with the aftermath of my actions. Maybe it's selfish but I think mostly I just miss the fact i won't get a second chance to do it right"

A shaky hand reached up to rub at his mouth before staying there, muffling a heavy breathe that tried to escape his throat 

"Sorry- I don't really know why I'm telling you this, I don't usually- well I don't"

He couldn't let but admit that it felt good. Just a little bit, to share what happened with another.

"Don't uh, don't you go telling anyone my secrets either alright."
Ryan
"I suppose I am one of the lucky ones." Uriel had never considered themselves lucky before, but perhaps Lucifer was right. They had someone who loved them, and a couple of friends, now. They had a future, maybe— if their theories were correct, something in their life would eventually give, and they'd receive some happily ever after, some form of universal retribution for the harm they've received. Could many other people say the same? 

Uriel didn't know. They never thanked the universe for what they had— only what they lacked. Perhaps they were a bit selfish, in that regard. 

Maybe... Was that why they weren't getting anything yet? They didn't appreciate what they already had? 

"That's... Useful information. I suppose I am lucky. Thank you for that insight." The words roll around unfamiliarity in their mouth, slowly as they try to ponder Lucifer's words. 

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about your secrets. I'm the local secret keeper, after all— as someone privy to everything, it would be a bit difficult if I was known as a blabber mouth, no? I don't think people would allow me to live as-is if I was." They let out a bemused hum, even if the sentiment behind them didn't seem too amusing. 

"A lot of people find it easy to talk to me. I carry a lot of their sins, so— don't feel bad, is all." They place a soothing hand on the small of his back, finding themselves at a loss of what to say to Lucifer's revelation. 

He couldn't be a bad person, Uriel thought. *No* One was a bad person— they were confused, or scared, or angry, yes, but there was no such thing as evil. 

"It wasn't your fault. You were only a kid, Lucifer. You still *Are a kid*, and you're learning." Uriel's voice is low and smooth, echoing off the metallic elevator walls. 

"If you need, please, use me as you see fit to air out your emotional laundry. I don't mind it."

You can close off if you want