"Hellooooo? Dad?" Charlie called through before opening the door - she gasped quite audibly at the sight therein, of course. "Oh, WOW! And-- Alastor's here, too! Oh my gosh, I thought it was sounding like a party in here!"
Alastor gave a wordless wave and smile, Charlie enthusiastically waving back.
He perked up further when stepped in. The copies raised drinks and cheered upon the entrance of the Princess, while the surly bartender groused, "Don't you pester the poor girl none, or I'm cuttin' you mugs off!"
"Welcome to the swingers party!" He crowed... completely missing out on what he'd said. It was swing music and a party. It couldn't possibly mean anything else!
But he checked the clock. Whistled in awe. "Ha! Guess we have. I'll tell you- Bambi here knows how to party... and drink, by golly!"
"Well, gosh, he had a great pitch and fancy footwork, and I got hooked," he noted with a carefree 'oh what can you do' shrug, smirked. He couldn't really look so put together if he tried: His hair was a little messy and he was still a bit flushed from all the aerobics and alcohol.
"Next time! We'll save you a seat, sweetie. I hope we weren't too loud."
Awwww. She likes dancing and singing with Alastor, too - she gets it completely. And... wow. Her dad looks happier than he's looked since they met in person again.
Happily, she walked over and gave her dad a hug. She's so glad to see him in a much better mood.
"Alright, you boys don't stay up too late, you hear? And remember to drink lots of water! You don't wanna make your hangovers worse, right?"
Dad's a little sweaty, but she'll plant a smooch on top of his head anyway.
"Thanks for hanging out with Al, dad. I hope he's being nice to you too," she whispered, pleased. It didn't look like either of them had been needling each other. Maybe all those weird fights and contests weren't that serious.
Lucifer nodded. They'd been rather cordial to one another of late, even laced through the one-liners, puns and jovial insults.
It'd been something of a spectacle in the Hotel. Niffty always rooted for Sir when given the chance, Husk and Angel were beyond confused but mutually enjoyed the show, while Vaggie had her initial moments of reaching for her spear, wondering not only if she should intervene should things go awry, but if she could- this was a fallen Seraphim and an Overlord, after all.
In all honesty... yeah. He'd like to keep spending time like this with Alastor. He'd been making a little jab at first, but the more he went, the more he realized his words for friend were flowing like water, without thought.
Perhaps the Radio Demon never would acknowledge his authority as King, a somewhat sore spot in him, a blow to his greatest Sin. But he didn't want what was happening tonight to be the last time. Al could use a friend... and he could use one, too.
Charlie beamed, glad to see such a warm, relaxed expression on her dad's face. Good!! Alastor didn't look like he was plotting anything, so that helped too.
"Alright, Alastor, don't bully my dad, okay?" she called, earning an amused chuckle from the demon.
"My dear, a little bullying is what's gotten him in such a good mood of late. He needed a little enrichment."
Then, with a poof and sparkles, the angel was gone and a little blond labrador retriever stood in his place. The bow tie was quite handsome upon the furry chest.
The dog sat upright and folded his front paws. The NERVE, sir!! But his tail was wagging.
"Why, if I'm going to be compared to a pooch, perhaps I'll start by chewing on something you love! How much do you like your shoes, by the way...?"
If Alastor failed to look much like a deer before, the way he instantly jolts in his seat from complete relaxation to looking like he was going to leap out of the window likely dispelled the illusion entirely. He bared his fangs more broadly and practically radiated malice - the kind of malice that only comes out of a pretty deeply ingrained fear.
"The visage of a fucking mongrel doesn't suit you," he snarled - he thought he was being quite diplomatic, honestly.
Was not the reaction he expected. Ooo-kay. Guy was not a dog person!
He'd changed back so fast that he was still sitting on the floor and his arms were folded over his chest. He snapped back upright.
"Hey, hey, whoa whoa-" This twisted something awful in his stomach.
He ruined it. He ruined a good time. He briefly heard the rich, dark, lovely voice sigh in his mind. Impatience. Fatigue. ...I'm not in the mood, Lucifer.
He kept his breaths even. Fix this. Fix this.
"I, ah-... I-I know when a bit doesn't land and that's a 'boo'! Got it. Noted. It's done."
Once Lucifer changed back, Alastor's powers calmed - though now he was properly tensed and awake instead of sleepily slouched against the bartop.
"Alastor, are you okay?" Charlie asked - she hadn't actually left just yet, and Alastor clicked his tongue in displeasure that she had to witness something like that.
"Just fine, my dear. Startled at worst," he replied, voice tight. "Mongrels and I simply don't have good rapport."
"Yes, well, it's not exactly something I've divulged. Adjusted though I am to the mongrels on two legs," Hellhounds and Sinners with dog faces, "seems I have quite a bit lingering of man's supposed best friend."
Charlie touched her father's shoulder, hoping to help him feel a little more confident. "Did something bad happen with dogs, Alastor?"
"Don't worry about it, my dear. I am very eager to put this moment behind us."
Huh, that's right... he hadn't thought of the hellhounds and canid Sinners. Perhaps if Queen Bee decided to visit, he can give her the heads up.
But this was a strange relief. For certain, Alastor was definitely a guy that put up a serious front, but he'd had decades of building up the persona. They were alike in that fashion: Needing to be something when, maybe deep down, it was to guard something.
The difference between them was that Alastor had a better handle on it. But him? Millennia of hurt that, to this immortal, still felt relatively fresh.
No wonder he'd been heckled out of his almost manic display of trying to reconnect with Charlie by yes-ma'am-ing her when he first visited. Alastor could sniff that out, but it didn't take any level of genius to suss it.
He stood straighter and clicked his heels once. "Well! As the original Deceiver, I can safely say that nothing happened just now. Golly, whaaaat...? Ah! Too much to drink, maybe! Or you're just not a fan of applejack. Quite alright, quite alright. Buuuut my earlier offer has and always will stand! Take it as you will."
"Too much sugar before bed, most certainly," Alastor nodded in agreement. Charlie still looked fretful, which only made Alastor roll his eyes more at her. Quit perceiving him, young lady.
"I am fine, Charlie. Go kiss your paramour goodnight already," he pat her head placatingly, and Charlie sighed.
"Alright. We're all here for you in case you want to talk about it, okay?" she offered. Alastor simply waved his hand at her. Out, now, silly thing.
Sorry you're surrounded by very stupid men, kiddo. He offered a shrug and a sheepish, lopsided smile.
But he nodded in agreement with Alastor. You're missing prime snuggle time. One must never keep a pretty girl waiting!
Lucifer kept all else up until that door closed. Even in the (now quieted) music and festivity that had slowly ebbed back into realize, his shoulders sagged and he brought a hand to a temple.
I have dreams about the Garden, about Heaven. When I do, I wake up and I feel like running, too, from spears I swear I can still see and feel.
...He took a breath, then swallowed that thought down. What use was there in sharing that? He always got pity, or an insult. He wasn't sure which was worse.
Instead, he went to get the both of them some soda water. Set one of the glasses within reach.
"Doctor's orders. Mustn't disappoint the young lady," Alastor agreed, downing the seltzer well enough. The calm of the party was gone, but he best do something before going to sleep tonight, if he slept at all.
"I'm a mite peckish. How does a quick bite of blackened Sawtooth Gar sound to you, Lucifer?"
He peered over the edge of his glass, the gears turning rather sluggishly, before he was at a loss. With a breath, he worked a couple of buttons undone on his shirt and tugged at the middle to get some air flow.
"...Sounds... like something I've never had before. I'm in."
"Simple, but delightful - I used to catch catfish out in the river when times were tough or I was a little bored, and even as a tot I could whip blacked fish up. It'll help cut through all the sweetness and the heat of the booze in our heads," he explained, calming down enough and getting down from the barstool to lead the way down to the kitchen.
"There's plenty I haven't experienced, yet. I've picked up a number of things from Rosie, and I've stayed abreast of what's trickled down since the twenties. But baring a few rare meetings with Zestial I haven't explored much earlier than that," Alastor chuffed in amusement.
Then there was the last seven years, but... nothing much seems to have changed. No surprise, really, there's always stretches of slow development before the rushes of inspiration.
"Most foreign dishes, I believe! It can be a nice little journey when Sinners from elsewhere share their meals," he explained, turning into the kitchen and starting to pull out various spices and, of course, the pan and oil.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sugaronthecream) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
divinetree2024-04-01 08:17 am
no subject
Alastor gave a wordless wave and smile, Charlie enthusiastically waving back.
"You guys were at this for hours?"
no subject
"Welcome to the swingers party!" He crowed... completely missing out on what he'd said. It was swing music and a party. It couldn't possibly mean anything else!
But he checked the clock. Whistled in awe. "Ha! Guess we have. I'll tell you- Bambi here knows how to party... and drink, by golly!"
no subject
"Join us for a drink, sha," he drawled fondly.
"It's late for me, I'll get a headache in the morning if I do! But I am SO. So happy to see you two getting along, aah!"
no subject
"Next time! We'll save you a seat, sweetie. I hope we weren't too loud."
no subject
Happily, she walked over and gave her dad a hug. She's so glad to see him in a much better mood.
"Alright, you boys don't stay up too late, you hear? And remember to drink lots of water! You don't wanna make your hangovers worse, right?"
no subject
"Yes, ma'am. Will do," he chuckled. Last thing he needed was to basically be scraped up with a spatula come morning. A sorry state for a King...
"You sleep tight, kiddo."
no subject
"Thanks for hanging out with Al, dad. I hope he's being nice to you too," she whispered, pleased. It didn't look like either of them had been needling each other. Maybe all those weird fights and contests weren't that serious.
no subject
It'd been something of a spectacle in the Hotel. Niffty always rooted for Sir when given the chance, Husk and Angel were beyond confused but mutually enjoyed the show, while Vaggie had her initial moments of reaching for her spear, wondering not only if she should intervene should things go awry, but if she could- this was a fallen Seraphim and an Overlord, after all.
In all honesty... yeah. He'd like to keep spending time like this with Alastor. He'd been making a little jab at first, but the more he went, the more he realized his words for friend were flowing like water, without thought.
Perhaps the Radio Demon never would acknowledge his authority as King, a somewhat sore spot in him, a blow to his greatest Sin. But he didn't want what was happening tonight to be the last time. Al could use a friend... and he could use one, too.
no subject
"Alright, Alastor, don't bully my dad, okay?" she called, earning an amused chuckle from the demon.
"My dear, a little bullying is what's gotten him in such a good mood of late. He needed a little enrichment."
no subject
Then, with a poof and sparkles, the angel was gone and a little blond labrador retriever stood in his place. The bow tie was quite handsome upon the furry chest.
The dog sat upright and folded his front paws. The NERVE, sir!! But his tail was wagging.
"Why, if I'm going to be compared to a pooch, perhaps I'll start by chewing on something you love! How much do you like your shoes, by the way...?"
no subject
"The visage of a fucking mongrel doesn't suit you," he snarled - he thought he was being quite diplomatic, honestly.
no subject
Was not the reaction he expected. Ooo-kay. Guy was not a dog person!
He'd changed back so fast that he was still sitting on the floor and his arms were folded over his chest. He snapped back upright.
"Hey, hey, whoa whoa-" This twisted something awful in his stomach.
He ruined it. He ruined a good time. He briefly heard the rich, dark, lovely voice sigh in his mind. Impatience. Fatigue. ...I'm not in the mood, Lucifer.
He kept his breaths even. Fix this. Fix this.
"I, ah-... I-I know when a bit doesn't land and that's a 'boo'! Got it. Noted. It's done."
no subject
"Alastor, are you okay?" Charlie asked - she hadn't actually left just yet, and Alastor clicked his tongue in displeasure that she had to witness something like that.
"Just fine, my dear. Startled at worst," he replied, voice tight. "Mongrels and I simply don't have good rapport."
no subject
The sweat had gotten cold on his body. Too cold. But he cleared his throat and fixed up his bow tie as he stepped over.
"Completely unintentional on my part. I'm sorry for the spook."
no subject
Charlie touched her father's shoulder, hoping to help him feel a little more confident. "Did something bad happen with dogs, Alastor?"
"Don't worry about it, my dear. I am very eager to put this moment behind us."
no subject
But this was a strange relief. For certain, Alastor was definitely a guy that put up a serious front, but he'd had decades of building up the persona. They were alike in that fashion: Needing to be something when, maybe deep down, it was to guard something.
The difference between them was that Alastor had a better handle on it. But him? Millennia of hurt that, to this immortal, still felt relatively fresh.
No wonder he'd been heckled out of his almost manic display of trying to reconnect with Charlie by yes-ma'am-ing her when he first visited. Alastor could sniff that out, but it didn't take any level of genius to suss it.
He stood straighter and clicked his heels once. "Well! As the original Deceiver, I can safely say that nothing happened just now. Golly, whaaaat...? Ah! Too much to drink, maybe! Or you're just not a fan of applejack. Quite alright, quite alright. Buuuut my earlier offer has and always will stand! Take it as you will."
no subject
"I am fine, Charlie. Go kiss your paramour goodnight already," he pat her head placatingly, and Charlie sighed.
"Alright. We're all here for you in case you want to talk about it, okay?" she offered. Alastor simply waved his hand at her. Out, now, silly thing.
no subject
But he nodded in agreement with Alastor. You're missing prime snuggle time. One must never keep a pretty girl waiting!
Lucifer kept all else up until that door closed. Even in the (now quieted) music and festivity that had slowly ebbed back into realize, his shoulders sagged and he brought a hand to a temple.
I have dreams about the Garden, about Heaven. When I do, I wake up and I feel like running, too, from spears I swear I can still see and feel.
...He took a breath, then swallowed that thought down. What use was there in sharing that? He always got pity, or an insult. He wasn't sure which was worse.
Instead, he went to get the both of them some soda water. Set one of the glasses within reach.
"...Doctor's orders." Then drank from his own.
no subject
"I'm a mite peckish. How does a quick bite of blackened Sawtooth Gar sound to you, Lucifer?"
no subject
"...Sounds... like something I've never had before. I'm in."
no subject
no subject
Some waved their goodbyes, others continued to drink. But they gradually vanished and the office seemed to shake off and put itself back together.
To the kitchen!
Just.
Don't mind if he has to practically jog to keep up. Your freakin' long legs.
"One of these days, we'll figure something you've never had and I can sing its praises! But I've heard good things about catfish."
no subject
Then there was the last seven years, but... nothing much seems to have changed. No surprise, really, there's always stretches of slow development before the rushes of inspiration.
no subject
"Soooo... what's on the proverbial foodie bucket list?"
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)