It's certainly true that Lucifer has endured suffering beyond anything Balthazar has ever witnessed. But he wasn't here then. It's different when he feels as though he could have been around to prevent it. Thnisko's right, though. Stewing over it won't help any of them.

The hug is nice. He's always been physically demonstrative, but holds back a little sometimes for Thnisko's sake. This is a welcome reassurance, and maybe in days to come it will make it easier yet for them to be close.

"Oh, I believe you about Moloch. I didn't think much of him at first but after what Lucifer's told me...I think I understand better. Not sure he'll ever be friendly with me, but that doesn't matter so much."

He's quiet, but there's a ripple of agreement through his Grace at the comment about Sin. He's worried for her, and that's not going to change, but bringing up this incident really isn't his place. If anyone will have to, it should be Lucifer himself. "Mind you," he adds, "I'll turn every bone in that man's body inside out if he does anything untoward to her."

"...although I imagine I'd be fourth or fifth in line." He takes a deep breath and lets it out. He feels chilled and sick still, but stable enough for a hard conversation.

"If you were me," he asks Thnisko, "would you go for the direct approach or try to coax him into opening up on his own?"