"Uncle Mammon? Well..." Charlie trailed off a bit. She didn't talk to Mammon very much these days, but... that funny uncle of hers did bring a lot of colorful smiles around the Palace when she was little. Or was that just how she remembered it, since she WAS little?
"Maybe he did. But if it's a one-of-a-kind item, maybe it's too priceless to get rid of. Or maybe he gave it to someone special?"
He really hoped that at least the novelty of it tickled the value-minded corner of Mammon's mind, rather than the get-rich-quick. He was flighty, impulsive, but he remembered when he knew of the value of things.
And how to make people laugh.
Lucifer slid the mask back on and laughed, gave Charlie a pat. "I hope so! Someone special for old Mamm, huh? Can you imagine? Maybe then he won't need all those spooky robots to keep him company! They can't be good conversationalists."
A beat. He reached for his phone and opened up his notepad to tap away. "'Note to self- Poker Night with Mamm'. You know, it's been a good decade or so. He's due to have his butt kicked again, and I can rope Bee, Satan, Levi and Bel in. ...Oz, too. Maybe having the others around will keep he and Mamm from fighting."
"Oh! Can I come too? I-- I feel like I haven't seen most of them in forever. Except for Aunt Bel for my checkups!"
Mom had... usually said the other Sins were busy. Or not a good influence, in a few cases. But... maybe mom just wasn't really right about most of that. Maybe she wanted to make decisions for herself, and see the faces of those that would visit when she was little.
He blinked up at her in a bit of surprise, a sharp twist in his chest. Lily... did you have a hand in that, too?
"Of- ...of course!"
Lucifer broke into a grin. "Yeah! We'll put a dent in all the great snacks your Aunt Bee always brings, everybody brings some good tunes, we throw some cards, talk some shit, it'll be a fantastic time!!"
He opened up the group chat, mind set. Mass invite sent! Let's do some damned Poker and shoot the breeze, catch up and let them dote on their niece. He just needed to make sure to dodge Satan's cigar offers and not accept drinks from Bee is all. He needed to work on his swerves.
"You know Texas hold 'em? If not, I can show you the ropes."
"Oh, oh! I happen to know some veeeeery talented Sinners around here that could help us have a little learning night for iiiiit~" Charlie beamed excitedly, getting an amused snort from Angel on the sofa and a faint grunt from Husk behind the bar.
"Babe," Vaggie wandered over to join the conversation properly, "we do want to avoid gambling in the Hotel, it's one of those temptations--"
"We can gamble using peanuts! It's fiiiine, it's just a game with friends! Whaddya think, Husk?"
"Takes all the fun outta it," Husk curled a lip before sucking down some alcohol.
"Peanuts, matches, anything works. Besides... I picked up the game when it first came to be over two-hundred years ago. The humans would always try for a touch of prestige and bragging rights, but... hahah... I'm not exactly a slouch."
"Please, my Deer. I've seen about every strategy there is! You're playing against the Devil! I look forward to seeing you pop a stitch trying to work out what hand I've got."
Nope. There's no recovering. Even married, some tales are just as old as time.
"Luck is luck, sha," Alastor taunted, emerging from the kitchen and taking off the oven mitt he was wearing just so he could pinch Lucifer's cheek, "...and however much you think you can read me, you can't."
"Tonight. After dinner, of course - Husker, my good man! Set up our table, you have fifteen minutes before dinner itself!" Alastor snapped his fingers, getting a grouchy growl from the bartender. At least Alastor's summoned the poker table in the middle of the lobby.
As ridiculous as Alastor and her dad acted, there was no mistaking how Lucifer always had a little extra bounce in his step whenever they teased each other. She watched Alastor walking back into the kitchen, just as bouncy, and... it was nice.
Would... would it be weird to hug her dad? Well, maybe it is weird, but - she steps forward and does it anyway.
"I'm glad you're feeling better, dad..." she murmured. The lack of appetite, the barely hidden upset expression - if he was still fighting his depression, she wanted to be understanding. "I'm here for you if you ever need me, okay? Promise."
As Alastor turned to leave, Lucifer couldn't mask the grin and snicker. Pride be damned, it was just good to exchange blows again. He was morbidly curious as to how he played cards.
But he caught Charlie's eye and the grin turned sheepish. He couldn't give the helpless shrug before she hugged him, a gesture that was returned after the initial sound of surprise.
"...Thank you, Charlie. It'll take more than a somersaulting stomach to knock me out of commission! I'm a multiple-time survivor of the dreaded ~Tummy Troubles~."
"Gosh, me too - the pre-interview nerves are the worst! Especially if I'm not allowed to go in with a song," Charlie giggled, rolling her eyes a little. Interviews suck. "...I'm really excited to reconnect with everyone. Thanks for that."
THE WORST!! He nodded emphatically. He'd been doing them for thousands of years, and he swore they never got easier. Some were for fun, but when they covered topics he was still working out, they never ceased to inwardly rattle him.
"Of course! I..." His face fell, grew serious. "I didn't know you haven't seen them in so long. I wish I knew sooner! They miss you. ...We all missed you."
"Yeah. Well. Mom would say they were bad influences or would get me going down rabbit holes or something... and I'm deciding that I don't think she was right, and that I'm an adult now and can decide that for myself."
Gently, Charlie took his hands, giving them a squeeze. "I don't know why mom decided those things, but... whatever the reason, I'm glad we're finally catching up instead. I think... I like this a lot better."
"Yeah... I'm grateful," Charlie agreed. It'd been sort of weird getting to know her father SO late, and there was still stuff she got frustrated about, but... having someone here to help her means so much.
Having someone that will answer a call and listen means so much.
"Heheh. If you didn't agree to come see and help with the Hotel, I wouldn't. Have a stepfather," she laughed a little, tapping the sneaky ring with her thumb. "That is still SO weird to think about, by the way. Not exactly bad weird but definitely weird!"
His gaze flickered down to the ring and he chuckled a little. If she thought that was (not a bad) weird, he made a note that he should probably ask her to sit down before telling her about the other thing later on...
"Ah... Yeah, it was weird coming back from a trip sporting a new accessory and news, huh? He caught me by surprise!" Yeah. It was Alastor who pretty much popped that question.
"Made an offer that I, uh... couldn't refuse, haha..."
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sugaronthecream) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
divinetree2024-04-01 08:17 am
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"Maybe he did. But if it's a one-of-a-kind item, maybe it's too priceless to get rid of. Or maybe he gave it to someone special?"
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And how to make people laugh.
Lucifer slid the mask back on and laughed, gave Charlie a pat. "I hope so! Someone special for old Mamm, huh? Can you imagine? Maybe then he won't need all those spooky robots to keep him company! They can't be good conversationalists."
A beat. He reached for his phone and opened up his notepad to tap away. "'Note to self- Poker Night with Mamm'. You know, it's been a good decade or so. He's due to have his butt kicked again, and I can rope Bee, Satan, Levi and Bel in. ...Oz, too. Maybe having the others around will keep he and Mamm from fighting."
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Mom had... usually said the other Sins were busy. Or not a good influence, in a few cases. But... maybe mom just wasn't really right about most of that. Maybe she wanted to make decisions for herself, and see the faces of those that would visit when she was little.
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"Of- ...of course!"
Lucifer broke into a grin. "Yeah! We'll put a dent in all the great snacks your Aunt Bee always brings, everybody brings some good tunes, we throw some cards, talk some shit, it'll be a fantastic time!!"
He opened up the group chat, mind set. Mass invite sent! Let's do some damned Poker and shoot the breeze, catch up and let them dote on their niece. He just needed to make sure to dodge Satan's cigar offers and not accept drinks from Bee is all. He needed to work on his swerves.
"You know Texas hold 'em? If not, I can show you the ropes."
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"Babe," Vaggie wandered over to join the conversation properly, "we do want to avoid gambling in the Hotel, it's one of those temptations--"
"We can gamble using peanuts! It's fiiiine, it's just a game with friends! Whaddya think, Husk?"
"Takes all the fun outta it," Husk curled a lip before sucking down some alcohol.
"Perfect! That sounds like so much fun!"
1/2
"Peanuts, matches, anything works. Besides... I picked up the game when it first came to be over two-hundred years ago. The humans would always try for a touch of prestige and bragging rights, but... hahah... I'm not exactly a slouch."
2/2
He brought a hand to the side of his mouth to call:
"You can join us under the stipulation that there'll be no shadow peeking."
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Charlie made a face. Oh no. Oh no, they're going to get really competitive......
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"He hasn't played against your old man yet."
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"Now now. Just because you're my bedfellow now doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you, sha. I'll have you molting all over again!"
Vaggie's turn to bury her face in her hand.
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Nope. There's no recovering. Even married, some tales are just as old as time.
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"Hmm," he purred, voice husky. "We'll see, huh? Time and place, Bambi. Time and place."
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He clapped twice. "Fifteen, everybody! Wash your hands, finish what needs finishing. I've been all over the place today and need to clean up."
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Would... would it be weird to hug her dad? Well, maybe it is weird, but - she steps forward and does it anyway.
"I'm glad you're feeling better, dad..." she murmured. The lack of appetite, the barely hidden upset expression - if he was still fighting his depression, she wanted to be understanding. "I'm here for you if you ever need me, okay? Promise."
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But he caught Charlie's eye and the grin turned sheepish. He couldn't give the helpless shrug before she hugged him, a gesture that was returned after the initial sound of surprise.
"...Thank you, Charlie. It'll take more than a somersaulting stomach to knock me out of commission! I'm a multiple-time survivor of the dreaded ~Tummy Troubles~."
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"Of course! I..." His face fell, grew serious. "I didn't know you haven't seen them in so long. I wish I knew sooner! They miss you. ...We all missed you."
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"Yes. You can. ...And I'm sorry you had to go through so much because of... of the two of us."
But mostly me.
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Despite that, however:
"Me, too. I'm... still in disbelief that I'm standing here like this. That this is real."
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Having someone that will answer a call and listen means so much.
"Heheh. If you didn't agree to come see and help with the Hotel, I wouldn't. Have a stepfather," she laughed a little, tapping the sneaky ring with her thumb. "That is still SO weird to think about, by the way. Not exactly bad weird but definitely weird!"
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"Ah... Yeah, it was weird coming back from a trip sporting a new accessory and news, huh? He caught me by surprise!" Yeah. It was Alastor who pretty much popped that question.
"Made an offer that I, uh... couldn't refuse, haha..."
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