He smiled, and let the lens fall into a waiting hand before it lay safely atop the bench. "Yes, well- I realize some older projects of mine were gathering dust and felt a burst of inspiration: Why start new projects without having the satisfaction of completing those bef-... before."
It was like a skip on a record, brief confusion as to what Alastor was doing before his eyes fell to the clip.
"Oh..." He went to touch it. Felt a little knot twist in his stomach, but couldn't even be bothered to question it this time. He wasn't so naive to be unaware of something he'd felt once before, so long ago, sailed down its river for tens of thousands of years.
He felt something similar when he touched down in the Garden, parted the shrubs, and saw something so breathtaking that he had- for once- been at a loss for words, but desperately wished to speak.
"Tha-that's right, you've got a deft hand with a needle, don't you? It's real pretty."
The smile was a bit lopsided when he canted his head to get a look at him overhead.
"Carnations were always my mother's favorite. I'd learned a good bit of sewing to keep clothes mended, but I'd made little carnations out of bits of cloth too small to be of use," Alastor chuckled, leaning on the back of Lucifer's chair. If it were anyone else, Alastor would hesitate to mention anything to do with his dearly departed mom... but Lucifer didn't seem the sort to exploit that softness of Alastor's. He was too powerful to need to. "Red suits you. Never enough, I say," he added, plucking up the lens that Lucifer had carefully set down.
"Your mechanical tinkerings are intriguing too. A sort of craftsmanship that's thoroughly underrated. But how long have you been plugging away at this, hmm?"
That was... rather personal. This was also a good way to use leftover bits of cloth! He even got the little crimps on the edge of the blooms. You could truly mistake it for the real thing.
Wearing more red, however... he had his coat lining, his hat lining. It was juuuust enough to pop amid the tint of the white he opted for. But he supposed he could look into a red shirt or slacks. Suspenders, perhaps... maybe he won't look like a peppermint stick!
"Been tinkering for as long as I can remember. But this project?" He sighed, rubbed his eyes.
"...Few days now. Been at it since this morning. I just... can't...!" He turned back to his work. There lie two halves of a whole, where connected they would form a sphere. Very small, delicate parts lay scattered, not even bothered to be organized, yet they didn't seem to sit without reason. He may need them.
"Hah! That's what I thought," Alastor chuckled, standing back upright and spinning the whole chair around, away from the project. "Time to rest your eyes and your mind and come at it fresh later. I've brought you a batch of beignets and if you like, I can also bring some coffee."
Permission and asking was for a lesser man. Alastor just took the reins, pushing the chair with Lucifer still sitting in it to the table where he'd rested the plate. "Charlie and her paramour already have their share, so eat up before they get cold."
He gave a little 'woop' at being twirled in the seat, blinked owlishly yet one eye at a time.
Shook his head to clear it. "What- no-no-no, I was so close! I just have tooooo-"
He could have protested. Really! But he also smelled chocolate and powdered sugar and toasty yeast-
Beignets!! Wait. Down, boy. We're adults here.
Lucifer cleared his throat and straightened up. "Well, I- I suppose I could take a little break for those puppies. Coffee also sounds really nice. The company, nicer."
It was cute, how Lucifer always lit up in glee at receiving a tasty treat. It definitely stroked Alastor's pride, and amusement, seeing how effective his cooking skills were for this goofy little king.
"Of course," Alastor chuckled, snapping and bringing them some hot black coffee. He'd been enjoying some while cooking, so no waiting necessary.
With a calm gesture, Alastor pulled a second chair close and sat, elegantly crossing his legs and settling in to enjoy his coffee. Another triumph for him - successfully pull the king away from a fixation and prevent a burnout. "Tonight as well is gumbo night, since Charlie asked so nicely. It's been cooking since this morning, you ought not miss it when it's served at seven."
Lucifer hadn't been the least bit subtle- after the first admittedly begrudging taste of his cooking, he'd insisted he come and try as much of what he was making as he could.
You know.
To see if it cut the mustard.
But today he accepted a mug of coffee with thanks and was glad for the refreshment. He selected one of the beignets- this one smelled of chocolate- to have a bite.
Naturally, it was perfect. Sinful. Pardon him, he needed a minute and to follow it with this coffee. He'd forgotten by now what he was working on.
Ooh, but that's an excited laugh. "Gumbo!! Alastor, you're too much, but you know I'll be there at seven sharp. Now, was it an ask, or did Charlie give you those eyes to boot and it got you? She's gotten good at them."
"Ah hah, hah! Those pleading peepers are potent, but no match for me, I'm afraid. Instead she's gotten good at catching me in a good mood, the clever creature," Alastor guffawed in delight.
Though, as of late, he was in a good mood fairly often. The lulls in between hotelier stressors and duties were pleasant, one might even forget at times where they were imprisoned. Something Charlie certainly must be proud of.
"I was considering some fried fish and remoulade, maybe with some orzo, but once we get through the gumbo I'll do that one."
But catching him in a good mood seemed a lot easier of late. Lucifer would never find a better dance partner, drinking buddy and fellow music enthusiast. If he didn't know any better, the king wagered that old Bambi here was leaning toward 'right as rain' because of it.
Who wasn't in better spirits when you had a good friend?
But he, too, found himself less and less in his own thoughts. Getting out of bed was easier, and he'd never felt so creative that he'd finish old projects before. He felt challenged, and he simply rose to it... just like the old days.
It was... nice, having someone in your corner like that. And he was so good to Charlie, too.
He smiled against the rim of his mug. "That also sounds phenomenal. ...Oh! I'll bring my sinful apple pie to divvy up among the crew. Can't go wrong with fruit after fish and spice, eh? Even if my spice tolerance isn't... er... amazing..."
"Oh, you'll eat it anyway," Alastor chuckled with a bit of a tease. He knew his cooking was irresistible after all, and it'd be a delight to watch Lucifer pant and sweat his way through eating a whole bowl of food again. Silly man.
Probably the most agreeable man Alastor has ever known, much to his surprise. He had initially chaffed firmly against the idea of a monarch, of anyone in power and throwing that weight around... but this man knew his power and yet didn't feel the need to peacock about it. No, he was charming, willing to live life and be enthralled with simple things. Never too high and mighty to get utterly drunk and dance the night away.
A perfect candidate, honestly. If Lucifer had become Rosie's suitor, Alastor would have finally found a suitor of hers worth respecting. Yet a little part of him was selfishly gleeful that he was the one being courted instead.
"Add a bit of vanilla ice cream to it and you'll have dear Vagatha's heart."
"She'll get you for calling her that, you know," he snickered, and selected a regular beignet this time. "She could spear you right in your cajones."
"But I suppose I can placate her with some 'a la mode' and she'll forgive you. Now, surely there's something sweet you like... you make a damn good beignet, but I get the feeling you might be holding out on me. Queen Bee may make the biggest, tastiest meals you could ever eat, but I pride myself on making things from scratch."
Once finished with his sugary treat, he traced his thumb against his tongue and paused in thought.
"For the red, surely?" Alastor snickered, sipping his coffee as he watched Lucifer's expression curiously. "If a sweet is made with depth of flavor, I'll consider it. I just don't enjoy the saccharine. Beignets have the benefit of savory dough and nostalgia to win my favor," he added, amused at the prospect of Lucifer trying to figure out what to make for him.
"I do appreciate the flavor of presentation and showmanship you bring. I accept this challenge - impress me, Lucifer."
His grin sharpened as he perched his cheek upon a hand. "Oho... Don't write checks you can't cash, Alastor. You're talking to the ringmaster!"
Let's see, he knew which of his personal collection of bourbon to use with a few sexy dashes of this and that, he'd need some good ice cream, maybe nab the cherries down in Gluttony... some chunky little guys that are a little on the tart side.
"Done. Let the gumbo be the timer. Once it's all nibbled up, you're getting a little show. Though, I wonder now..."
A little flutter of his eyelashes, very innocent.
"...Were I to compare you to something red, might I instead have likened you to a merlot?"
Oh, very innocent indeed. Alastor's grin grows at the comparison - a dry red wine, for him? How charming. Did he look like someone that Lucifer wanted to drink deeply of, hmm? There's a deep, giddy joy in this new game, something he's never played before, and had no interest until this particular chemistry.
"Merlot, you say? Did you choose it because of how well it pairs with roasted duck, I wonder?"
Pairing them off in your mind already, tsk tsk! Alastor chuckles.
"Were I to compare you to something pale... why, a wheel of brie, I think. Decadent, and well paired with many flavor palettes." Brie, of course, also quite famously paired with merlot.
"Jam is a classic. My preference is some rosemary and prosciutto... adds a depth and draws out the savory, enough to make one's mouth water in anticipation."
Alastor will finally pluck a beignet for himself, dipping it in his coffee before taking a bite.
"Oh, and oven baked, of course. It's at its best when it melts on the tongue."
He couldn't help but... observe that bite. Those teeth tear flesh, snap bones, all under the cheshire grin.
...Yet the way they bit through him, just enough to take...
"Gets a little hard to stay at just a few bites, too. You want all of it for yourself, because you never know when you might get to enjoy such a treat again."
He missed grabbing his coffee mug. Got it the second time, though. He was a little busy with his lingering gaze.
"...So what if maybe you had a little too much before...? The brie should be flattered it came to be so tasty that you couldn't contain yourself."
Oh, that's hardly euphemism at that point, isn't it? But seeing Lucifer fumble for the mug brings a chuckle out of him, even as his neck bends and crackles at an unnatural angle.
"It's quite fortunate I have self control, really - left to my gluttonous instincts, why, I wager I would have devoured it rind and all."
And if Alastor's fantasy of devouring the king of hell whole didn't dissuade the man from continuing to play into this little game... well, mayhaps Alastor's looming hunger could be a thrilling danger lurking around the corner. His deadly maw, which he had perfect control over, quite able to eat his beignets in smooth, single bites.
"Something tells me it'll beckon for that danger again."
The king had been... perceptive lately, particularly on the ever-present smile. It never really seemed to fade, but there was an odd gentleness with which he took down a treat such as this. To compare it to the way he likely tore into the flesh of another living being in contrast spoke volumes of a sort of self-control.
Which, in fact, led him to consider letting him have him again. ...BLOOD-WISE. BLOOD-WISE. Sheesh, where was his brain going lately!?
"You practice what you preach, that's for sure. Why, anyone would be foolish not to think about just how well you put it to use in... culinary matters."
He rolled his shoulders to loosen up his collar. It was getting a bit tight.
"Regardless- A brie waits to be eaten. Perhaps it's been waiting for so long that..."
He traced a thumb idly over the surface of the mug and cast his eyes away. "...Maybe it wonders if there's an appetite for it any more. Then it wishes for a touch of danger. Reckless, that brie."
"Well, well. I would never be so gauche as to steal your wheel of brie from you. But with an invite to come over for lunch... that's quite a different story," Alastor hummed in amusement.
The King really did yearn for touch, it seemed. He wanted to be desired, didn't he... he didn't understand the feeling, nor was he certain he could meet a carnal desire, but for the first time in his centuries of existence he was interested in giving it a try.
"If the door is open, why, I'll be tempted to gobble up the whole thing at once."
What was he saying...? Weren't they at each other's throats before? How could he even be considering-
"...So I'll leave the door open, then. Suppose you wanted a red carpet, too, hm?"
Lucifer Morningstar, you will not come off as EASY!!
...Or perhaps he was being too difficult...?
He wasn't sure. All he knew was Lilith. This was entirely brand new, and even in the Garden, Adam had been a mega dick and those days were like a dream. Not like the nightmare of all the recent bloodshed, all the struggling to break bread with Heaven...
"No need! Because with you, dear Lucifer, it will be gold that touches the floor first. I'm a sloppy eater, it's my worst habit," Alastor chuckled freely, setting down his coffee and standing from his seat. Perhaps the beignets would get a bit cold, but he wagered that Lucifer was far more eager to taste touch instead.
Folding a hand behind his back, Alastor held out the other for Lucifer to take, inviting him to stand. A chair simply wasn't stable enough, if he was going to let blood. "Where shall I escort you for this?"
It was automatic how he'd stood, and took the offered hand. But his heart was fluttering, stomach jumping in anticipation- settle down, he just ate- before the question had struck him dumb.
"Uhm. Ah."
Where. Do people usually go for this?
"Oh, anywhere's... fine? If you're messy, you're messy. I'm not a neat freak, I just play one on TV."
"Hah! Any fly on the wall would assume somehow that you're even less familiar with intimacies than I am. Have confidence, you know better than I do what we're doing," Alastor encouraged, tipping up Lucifer's chin with a finger.
It was a funny admission, honestly, to confess he was completely winging it right now. But things like this really weren't unlike dancing... following the rhythm and the instinct couldn't really go that wrong.
Despite the admission creating a ton of questions in his mind- how can a man like that really not know what he's doing when it comes to damn near anything? Fake it 'til you make it, he guessed- he went stock still with but a simple gesture.
Marigold quickly rose in his face before he cleared his throat.
"Oh, uh- well- I suppose this would be a rare consensual blood-letting, wouldn't it?" He really wished he hadn't sounded so husky, there.
He jerked a thumb to the sofa. "I got real woozy last time, so at least here, I don't need to be carried somewhere. Keeps us both comfy."
To give himself some air, keep himself from fidgeting, he moved on ahead, and dismissed his hat and coat with a bit of magic to send it hanging on a nearby rack.
He had to wonder if he needed to give some sort of line, a proposition... but it wasn't like Alastor knew, either. They really were just winging this. When he took a seat he straightened up, smoothed down his shirt, and... um, hm. Wondered.
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divinetree2024-04-01 08:17 am
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It was like a skip on a record, brief confusion as to what Alastor was doing before his eyes fell to the clip.
"Oh..." He went to touch it. Felt a little knot twist in his stomach, but couldn't even be bothered to question it this time. He wasn't so naive to be unaware of something he'd felt once before, so long ago, sailed down its river for tens of thousands of years.
He felt something similar when he touched down in the Garden, parted the shrubs, and saw something so breathtaking that he had- for once- been at a loss for words, but desperately wished to speak.
"Tha-that's right, you've got a deft hand with a needle, don't you? It's real pretty."
The smile was a bit lopsided when he canted his head to get a look at him overhead.
"A carnation, huh...?"
no subject
"Your mechanical tinkerings are intriguing too. A sort of craftsmanship that's thoroughly underrated. But how long have you been plugging away at this, hmm?"
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Wearing more red, however... he had his coat lining, his hat lining. It was juuuust enough to pop amid the tint of the white he opted for. But he supposed he could look into a red shirt or slacks. Suspenders, perhaps... maybe he won't look like a peppermint stick!
"Been tinkering for as long as I can remember. But this project?" He sighed, rubbed his eyes.
"...Few days now. Been at it since this morning. I just... can't...!" He turned back to his work. There lie two halves of a whole, where connected they would form a sphere. Very small, delicate parts lay scattered, not even bothered to be organized, yet they didn't seem to sit without reason. He may need them.
"It doesn't move right! Too jerky."
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Permission and asking was for a lesser man. Alastor just took the reins, pushing the chair with Lucifer still sitting in it to the table where he'd rested the plate. "Charlie and her paramour already have their share, so eat up before they get cold."
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Shook his head to clear it. "What- no-no-no, I was so close! I just have tooooo-"
He could have protested. Really! But he also smelled chocolate and powdered sugar and toasty yeast-
Beignets!! Wait. Down, boy. We're adults here.
Lucifer cleared his throat and straightened up. "Well, I- I suppose I could take a little break for those puppies. Coffee also sounds really nice. The company, nicer."
no subject
"Of course," Alastor chuckled, snapping and bringing them some hot black coffee. He'd been enjoying some while cooking, so no waiting necessary.
With a calm gesture, Alastor pulled a second chair close and sat, elegantly crossing his legs and settling in to enjoy his coffee. Another triumph for him - successfully pull the king away from a fixation and prevent a burnout. "Tonight as well is gumbo night, since Charlie asked so nicely. It's been cooking since this morning, you ought not miss it when it's served at seven."
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You know.
To see if it cut the mustard.
But today he accepted a mug of coffee with thanks and was glad for the refreshment. He selected one of the beignets- this one smelled of chocolate- to have a bite.
Naturally, it was perfect. Sinful. Pardon him, he needed a minute and to follow it with this coffee. He'd forgotten by now what he was working on.
Ooh, but that's an excited laugh. "Gumbo!! Alastor, you're too much, but you know I'll be there at seven sharp. Now, was it an ask, or did Charlie give you those eyes to boot and it got you? She's gotten good at them."
no subject
Though, as of late, he was in a good mood fairly often. The lulls in between hotelier stressors and duties were pleasant, one might even forget at times where they were imprisoned. Something Charlie certainly must be proud of.
"I was considering some fried fish and remoulade, maybe with some orzo, but once we get through the gumbo I'll do that one."
no subject
But catching him in a good mood seemed a lot easier of late. Lucifer would never find a better dance partner, drinking buddy and fellow music enthusiast. If he didn't know any better, the king wagered that old Bambi here was leaning toward 'right as rain' because of it.
Who wasn't in better spirits when you had a good friend?
But he, too, found himself less and less in his own thoughts. Getting out of bed was easier, and he'd never felt so creative that he'd finish old projects before. He felt challenged, and he simply rose to it... just like the old days.
It was... nice, having someone in your corner like that. And he was so good to Charlie, too.
He smiled against the rim of his mug. "That also sounds phenomenal. ...Oh! I'll bring my sinful apple pie to divvy up among the crew. Can't go wrong with fruit after fish and spice, eh? Even if my spice tolerance isn't... er... amazing..."
no subject
Probably the most agreeable man Alastor has ever known, much to his surprise. He had initially chaffed firmly against the idea of a monarch, of anyone in power and throwing that weight around... but this man knew his power and yet didn't feel the need to peacock about it. No, he was charming, willing to live life and be enthralled with simple things. Never too high and mighty to get utterly drunk and dance the night away.
A perfect candidate, honestly. If Lucifer had become Rosie's suitor, Alastor would have finally found a suitor of hers worth respecting. Yet a little part of him was selfishly gleeful that he was the one being courted instead.
"Add a bit of vanilla ice cream to it and you'll have dear Vagatha's heart."
no subject
"But I suppose I can placate her with some 'a la mode' and she'll forgive you. Now, surely there's something sweet you like... you make a damn good beignet, but I get the feeling you might be holding out on me. Queen Bee may make the biggest, tastiest meals you could ever eat, but I pride myself on making things from scratch."
Once finished with his sugary treat, he traced his thumb against his tongue and paused in thought.
"Hmmm... You look like a cherries jubilee fella~"
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"I do appreciate the flavor of presentation and showmanship you bring. I accept this challenge - impress me, Lucifer."
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Let's see, he knew which of his personal collection of bourbon to use with a few sexy dashes of this and that, he'd need some good ice cream, maybe nab the cherries down in Gluttony... some chunky little guys that are a little on the tart side.
"Done. Let the gumbo be the timer. Once it's all nibbled up, you're getting a little show. Though, I wonder now..."
A little flutter of his eyelashes, very innocent.
"...Were I to compare you to something red, might I instead have likened you to a merlot?"
no subject
"Merlot, you say? Did you choose it because of how well it pairs with roasted duck, I wonder?"
Pairing them off in your mind already, tsk tsk! Alastor chuckles.
"Were I to compare you to something pale... why, a wheel of brie, I think. Decadent, and well paired with many flavor palettes." Brie, of course, also quite famously paired with merlot.
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And down goes his third beignet, emphasis on the bite.
"...Soft, cozy, smooth. Lingers on the tongue. That's when you have your next bite."
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Alastor will finally pluck a beignet for himself, dipping it in his coffee before taking a bite.
"Oh, and oven baked, of course. It's at its best when it melts on the tongue."
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...Yet the way they bit through him, just enough to take...
"Gets a little hard to stay at just a few bites, too. You want all of it for yourself, because you never know when you might get to enjoy such a treat again."
He missed grabbing his coffee mug. Got it the second time, though. He was a little busy with his lingering gaze.
"...So what if maybe you had a little too much before...? The brie should be flattered it came to be so tasty that you couldn't contain yourself."
no subject
"It's quite fortunate I have self control, really - left to my gluttonous instincts, why, I wager I would have devoured it rind and all."
And if Alastor's fantasy of devouring the king of hell whole didn't dissuade the man from continuing to play into this little game... well, mayhaps Alastor's looming hunger could be a thrilling danger lurking around the corner. His deadly maw, which he had perfect control over, quite able to eat his beignets in smooth, single bites.
"Something tells me it'll beckon for that danger again."
no subject
Which, in fact, led him to consider letting him have him again. ...BLOOD-WISE. BLOOD-WISE. Sheesh, where was his brain going lately!?
"You practice what you preach, that's for sure. Why, anyone would be foolish not to think about just how well you put it to use in... culinary matters."
He rolled his shoulders to loosen up his collar. It was getting a bit tight.
"Regardless- A brie waits to be eaten. Perhaps it's been waiting for so long that..."
He traced a thumb idly over the surface of the mug and cast his eyes away. "...Maybe it wonders if there's an appetite for it any more. Then it wishes for a touch of danger. Reckless, that brie."
no subject
The King really did yearn for touch, it seemed. He wanted to be desired, didn't he... he didn't understand the feeling, nor was he certain he could meet a carnal desire, but for the first time in his centuries of existence he was interested in giving it a try.
"If the door is open, why, I'll be tempted to gobble up the whole thing at once."
no subject
"...So I'll leave the door open, then. Suppose you wanted a red carpet, too, hm?"
Lucifer Morningstar, you will not come off as EASY!!
...Or perhaps he was being too difficult...?
He wasn't sure. All he knew was Lilith. This was entirely brand new, and even in the Garden, Adam had been a mega dick and those days were like a dream. Not like the nightmare of all the recent bloodshed, all the struggling to break bread with Heaven...
no subject
Folding a hand behind his back, Alastor held out the other for Lucifer to take, inviting him to stand. A chair simply wasn't stable enough, if he was going to let blood. "Where shall I escort you for this?"
no subject
"Uhm. Ah."
Where. Do people usually go for this?
"Oh, anywhere's... fine? If you're messy, you're messy. I'm not a neat freak, I just play one on TV."
That didn't make any sense.
"Sorry. Had a lot of sugar."
no subject
It was a funny admission, honestly, to confess he was completely winging it right now. But things like this really weren't unlike dancing... following the rhythm and the instinct couldn't really go that wrong.
no subject
Marigold quickly rose in his face before he cleared his throat.
"Oh, uh- well- I suppose this would be a rare consensual blood-letting, wouldn't it?" He really wished he hadn't sounded so husky, there.
He jerked a thumb to the sofa. "I got real woozy last time, so at least here, I don't need to be carried somewhere. Keeps us both comfy."
To give himself some air, keep himself from fidgeting, he moved on ahead, and dismissed his hat and coat with a bit of magic to send it hanging on a nearby rack.
He had to wonder if he needed to give some sort of line, a proposition... but it wasn't like Alastor knew, either. They really were just winging this. When he took a seat he straightened up, smoothed down his shirt, and... um, hm. Wondered.
"Soooo... how about a safe word, then?"
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