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[stiling]

[ He's distracted by his fingers first and foremost, flexing them, a distinct lack of claws branching off of each of them - just regular old nails, bitten down to the quick. ] I kinda miss it.

[ But he's here for a real reason, and his arms half-heartedly wave a bit to remind himself to get back on topic. ]

Clippers? Some kind of shaving implement?

[ Stiles gestures to the all of his head and his hair, which is getting a little- well. Un-Stiles. ]

I'll take a rogue pair of well-aimed scissors. A freaking lawn mower, man, Jesus, I don't know.

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[stiling]

[ He holds up both palms in a whoa, slow down kind of gesture - well, sort of palms; one's still holding a biscuit. ] There's angels here. And there's three of them. Why haven't I met them yet? [ Seriously, looking curiously from now on. ]

[ He says, having talked to Gabriel on several an occasion already. ]

Is he cool? I bet the angels are so cool. And feisty. Strong motherfuckers.

[bostonhowler]

[She shakes her head.]

He's terrifying. There's... he doesn't smell human. I mean, not in the way that like a werewolf smells different, but in the way that... there's something other there. A presence, a smell, something that makes you want to show your throat and cower and run away and hope he doesn't notice you.

[She sips her tea.]

When I met him, and St. Lucifer, I went to my knees. Reverence seemed the best way not to get smote.

[stiling]

Well, that sounds, [ a pause as he sets his tea a little too hard down on the table again, almost enough to send it sloshing out of the glass, ] genuinely terrifying. Cool.

So no backsassing the angels. Now, when you say- [ And he's seen posts with the guy, he's seen the warnings away from him and everything; they were hard to miss. But there's that step between seeing and actually believing. ] When you say Lucifer, you mean he's legitimately, actually really- like Satan. Here.

[bostonhowler]

[She rolls her eyes.]

You shouldn't backsass the angels, no. Respect, Stiles.

[It's a gentle admonishment, but Brigid knows that most people don't have her faith. That's okay.]

Mmm. Depends on the mythos you believe. Lucifer isn't Satan. Satan is the Adversary who was around before Lucifer. But, if you're asking if the one here is Lucifer the Lightbringer, then yes, he is.

[stiling]

I don't think I'd even know what to say to an angel if I met one.

[ Because he doesn't have faith beyond an abstract kind of thing, knows enough from the bible to rebut some really awfully stupid Christian arguments online, but it's the most basic of things. Still, the concept of something heavenly, in his presence and there and living- that's intimidating. ]

There's a difference. [ Almost a question. ] Like the fallen angel, or like the devil? [ He splays his hand on the table, tapping his fingers a little curiously against the wood. ] Or both?

[bostonhowler]

I just... talk to St. Raphael. A lot, actually. He's probably tired of hearing it.

[She's almost constantly praying. She just keeps it silent.]

There is. [She taps her own fingers on the table.] Again, it depends on what you believe. Catholicism teaches that there can be no 'rebellion' against God. Everything is done with His knowledge. So, Lucifer didn't 'rebel' or 'fall', just was given a purview of human nature that makes him... less desirable than the other angels.

[That's what she believes, from long talks with her priest and her professors.] Devil is a generic term. The Adversary is... the other side of God's coin. God is love, and gentleness, and caring, and parenting. The Adversary is sin and hatred and temptation and recklessness. Everyone has their opposite.

[She pushes herself up and gets her scissors.]

Come on. You can eat and we can discuss religion while I get your hair done.

[stiling]

[ He listens, though, and it's carefully even though he does fidget his way through it, does tap his fingers a little impatiently against the table as she speaks and he waits for his turn to do so as well. He stands when she does - right, his hair - his hands going to his hips as he mulls it all over. ]

All right. [ A little slowly, a little thoughtfully. ] You're kind of wording this all like he's not so bad a guy, kind of a misstep more than anything else. But, he's -

[ One of his hands jumps up, rubs haphazardly through all of his hair for a moment. ] I mean, stereotypes exist for a very stereotypical reason, and that's because they're based in some original fact or figure, and Lucifer is still - like, Lucifer how we've come to know him and see him. Right? That's what's here.

[ He looks around the room. ] Where do we wanna do this, for that matter?

[bostonhowler]

Temptation is beautiful and powerful, Stiles. Lucifer was the most beautiful of all of God's angels. Temptation and sin are easy and seductive.

[She shrugs.]

Humans blame their failings on other things because it's easier than taking responsibility for their actions. And Lucifer is easy to blame.

As for who's here, I don't know. I haven't spoken to him much. He seems either confused by me, or just dismissive. Probably the latter.

[She frowns.]

Well, it's chilly outside, and the kitchen floor cleans, so just scoot your chair over?