divinetree | Mom says it's my turn with the Alastor

He canted his head a bit. Huh... that's right.

"Maybe so, but if anyone here asks me to stuff them, I'm gonna draw a line in the sand! Especially for poor, sweet baby Keekee."

"Can a key die?" Alastor asked, head tilting. Sure, it could be broken, but there's no taxidermying a hunk of metal, and Keekee would likely shift, right...?

Huh.

"Keekee will be fine!" Charlie interjected, with a bit of insistence. "And memorials are good for me, honestly. Just a portrait or something!"

"Hey, hey- She's not just a key! She is baby!" He waved a finger.

"And memorial portraits are fantastic. The artist we have on hand does a terrific job. ...Oh!"

He released and popped back to his feet.

"We should have a big group portrait sometime!"

The proposal surprised Alastor, if his slight start was any indication.

"Come on, Al, this old camera's vintage - we should at least have a vintage picture of us. A little thing to keep on the mantle!"

A laugh escaped Alastor, and he tilted his head, looking incredulously at Lucifer.

"Hah! Getting my postmortem memorial done in advance, I see!" he joked, tapping Lucifer's chest. "A waste of paint, I'm not going anywhere any time soon~"

"Oh, what, afraid the artist won't get your nose right? I promise the pal's great. They'll depict you just as larger-than-life as you are!"

An elbow. "Besides, you're family! We're all in this project together, and how the Hell are we gonna have a group-op for the Hotel without its steadfast Hotelier~?"

"The family you choose is better."

That word. Goodness... he glanced at Charlie. Ah. No surprise she was smiling, clearly fond of the idea.

...How would you feel, mother? Ah, a silly thought. She'd be aghast at what he'd done to be in Hell in the first place.

"Well then. I can hardly argue when Charlie's nearly tearing up in joy," Alastor teased lightly, deflecting the emotion - he'll handle that later.

Oh, good. Because he was gearing up to stand next to his daughter and cook up some tears, himself, become the Morningstar Double-Whammy.

"Perfect! I'll give them a call and find out when they're next available."

He paused. Leaned. Stared.

"...And until then, I am going to take matters into my own hands and fix your coat! You stitch all those nice dolls, but you keep conveniently forgetting your clothes. Self-care, Alastor!"

"My coat is perfect, cher, it strikes the silhouette I want," Alastor rebuffed, tapping Lucifer on his red-circle cheek. "I may consider alternative wear for the portrait, but this coat stays exactly how I like it."

To his credit, he let a mote of magic give the poke to his cheek give a small rubber toy's squeak.

"...Alternative wear?" Curious now. You can't back out.

"If that's your decision, I'd love to get a peek at it before everything."

"I've taken that prior getup to the tailor's. You've already gotten a peek. Unless you'd find that unsuitable, then I suppose it's a trip to Rosie's for me~" Alastor teased fondly, folding his hands behind his back. Unsuitable, or perhaps Lucifer wanted that outfit to be just for him. Alastor would understand that.

"Oh, that's right! Let Rosie know I loved everything she got me last time," Charlie beamed a bit.

"What she picked for Lucifer was also impeccable. That Rosie has a talent!"

He definitely recalled another outfit he wore and cleared his throat. Right, he, sort of-

"Er, wh-whatever you'd like to do! So long as you won't hate looking at it whenever you see the final picture." Golly, he would try and contain himself, certainly.

"Yes, Miss Rosie certainly has good taste! I've got to pick her brain on expanding my wardrobe further!" Maybe something for Alastor to tear offfffffhoooh can we settle down, please

"She's been asking for another lunch date with both of you~" Alastor said in a sing-song tone, pinching Charlie's cheek. "You especially, since she hasn't seen you since your last visit at the funerals."

"It has been a while," Charlie nodded, even if she looked a little sheepish. She didn't usually enjoy the food offers, personally...

"I'll arrange a day for the three of us then. Give you plenty of notice, let the woman doll you up like she's been wanting to."

"I feel like it's been ages. Let's do it! Any time. I'll keep my schedule clear."

Between... uh...

His...

...and the...

Okay, his schedule was clear already, BUT it's the principle of the thing!!

"I'll be sure to pick a day that won't get sucked up by politics," Alastor chuckled in amusement, before adding, "and where our guest is out for his workday."

"Right..." Charlie sighed in some relief. Her dad looked... really, really happy. Even Alastor looked chipper, rather than having his usual sharpness about him. Shaking her head, Charlie gives her dad a light playful 'punch' to the shoulder. "You guys be nice to each other!"

"Oh, Lucifer likes a little bullying," Alastor replied immediately.

"I do not need to know that, thanks!!"

He was about to insist that they do play nice, but Alastor's response had Lucifer stumble into a bout of uncontrolled, embarrassed laughter.

"HAHAHA ChARLIe he's- he's a rascal, isn't he!?" Bambi why

"How about we all go drink some water, huh? Hydrate! Good for the body, good for the soul!" It's true but you shouldn't say it

Ah, perfection. Their perturbed and embarrassed faces were absolutely worth it. Pink and gold. Hah hah!

"Hah. Or I could get some coffee brewing - I could go for the pick-me-up," he laughed merrily.

"I'll-- I'll pass, you guys go ahead," Charlie muttered in embarrassment, smiling and waving them off before heading off. ~~She owed Vaggie twenty bucks for guessing right about the relationship.~~

"Hmmhmm. Coffee for you, your highness?" Alastor asked, tone clear he was still extremely full of mischief.

~~Don't spend it all in one place, Vaggie!! Avoid cafes!~~

"See you, sweetie! L- love you...!"

His wave and his demeanor, after getting a moment to come up for air and cool off, stilled. He slowly turned his head to give Alastor a look.

"Yes. I'd love some. And maybe I won't pour it over your head, you absolute-!" He was on the attack with a triple finger-jab of his... well, his hip-

"Cheeky - giraffe - bastard!"

Jab, jab!! Alastor laughed and poked Lucifer lightly between his eyebrows, playfully. What a delightful daisy yellow his skin was, with that blush.

"It worked to derail dear Charlie's fretting, didn't it?"

"I-... yeah! Yeah, it did, but...!!" He put his fists to his hips and puffed cheeks at him.

"You made it sound like I enjoy being picked on! There's a huge difference! Besides..."

He brushed off his sleeves, sniffed indignantly. "I'm a switch."

"A what, now?"

"...?"

Oh. Right.

"...I enjoy being nibbled, but also enjoy doing the nibbling."

Alastor paused, tapping his chin in thought. Hmm. That does make sense. And given his explorations thus far... hmm.

"I suppose I'm the same."

"Self-discovery is fun! ...Though, let's try not to traumatize my daughter in the future. 'Like being bullied', my eye-"

He straightened up.

"I think that coffee's gotta be a shot-in-the-dark, at this rate. Y'know, add a little espresso right on top, make it a real kick in the pants."

He HAD to know how to make something really, really good. Maybe better than Alastor.

"Remind me to make you a hot chocolate! Or a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup."

"I've got just the thing. I'll prepare us some Turkish and you come up with whatever pastry you'd like," Alastor proposed. "We'll save the comfort food for a rainy day."

Alastor very casually walked down the hall towards the kitchen. He wasn't sure how much Lucifer had overheard, but it'd spoil the mood to dwell.

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