"No, it's--" He makes a frustrated sound, though the key into where Istredd's anger had come from is troubling. He'd like to say he wouldn't do that, but he is capable. He's always been capable of that level of emotional manipulation and he can't reliably make a promise that it'd never happen.

Lucifer touches his kissed hand to the book, like it'll help will Istredd to understand.

It thrilled him anytime 'before' when he got Istredd to show something else, get a snap through the calm. And now he still gets that, just a new brand, far more vibrant. Anything 'else' has become less important.

This instance--boundaries, looking for edges--was finding the pieces that need to be repaired. Not taken away, not replaced, but repaired with the other pieces because he's still him, whole.

This was the first sign that there was fight left to Istredd. He's been there, but it's been... muted.

This is the first time that Lucifer's really seen Istredd. The Istredd he knows, the one he's been trying to find, pull out of his shell. It's okay to fight, to be you, it's okay.

This? Is a sign that you're going to be okay. That whatever else cracks--whatever else, out-of-place bits we find? We'll repair them, fill them in. You're not going to be broken, Istredd. Whatever's there will still be beautiful.