The Devil's Nest, Tuesday Night

[my_own_advocate]

The devil... wasn't at the piano, for once.

He was standing by the bar while a hipster electronica band played their folk-inspired dance music near the piano. Martini in one hand, phone in the other.

"What on Earth were you doing in New York, brother?" he sighed.

"We knew you'd been spotted there a few times," Amenadiel admitted, on the other end of the line. "Linda hoped to come and talk to you. And, uh, get a-- it's called a babymoon--"

"Yes, yes, I hope you're enjoying your mother-angel daddy time," Lucifer said impatiently, "But is this what I can expect from now on? Is your mini-me going to be stalking me everywhere and harrassing every human I spend my time with, or--?"

"Remy's gone. I took care of it."

Lucifer rubbed at his forehead. "Well, if there's any sign that any of our other siblings are taking an interest--"

"I'll let you know. I told you, I'll handle-- all of this."

"See to it that you do," Lucifer said irritably, and hung up, ignoring the twisting feeling in his stomach at the thought something might happen to Linda over this.

Clearly he needed more alcohol. And a dancing partner or two.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[1000yearstoolate]

"You're not playing today?" Seivarden said, leaning against the bar next to Lucifer.

[my_own_advocate]

"Can't be my night every week," Lucifer said, taking a sip of his martini. "I'll just overshadow the talent."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Of course you would."

Seivarden smirked as she ordered a whiskey.

"At least I won't have to interfere."

[my_own_advocate]

"Interfere?" Lucifer asked, tossing her an amused look. "What were you plotting?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"Plots can be saved for later."

She didn't really have one, but why not let Lucifer think she did.

Taking a sip from the drink Tiny placed in front of her, she continued: "So, have you been doing anything interesting?"

It hadn't been that long since they last saw each other.

[my_own_advocate]

To the point where the answer could have easily been 'Yes, you', followed by his actual answer, which was, "I helped a lovely lady find her way to the island the other day. Just for a visit, mind you, but she did rather enjoy sticking around."

He shrugged, took a sip of his drink, and added, "And tied up that irritating business with my brother, but I'd prefer not to linger on that."

[1000yearstoolate]

"I imagine you showed her the most interesting parts," Seivarden said, throwing in some flattery. "Good to hear about your family though. Because I know you're not going to take offense, I just want so say I really don't want to see your sister again.

Being ignored and treated like some kind of property wasn't something she appreciated.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke had been known to cut a rug a time or two. He even, as he'd revealed to Verity once upon a time, knew how to do a proper Argentinian tango.

At the moment he was just ordering himself a bourbon, though. And making sure Tiny noticed Lucifer's clear distaste at that phone call and had a drink ready for him as well. . . .

[my_own_advocate]

"I went several thousand years without seeing Remiel and honestly, it wasn't long enough," Lucifer said, pulling a face. "Preferably the next time will be in another billion years or so. Or past the end of time."

[my_own_advocate]

Tiny swept in with another martini, and Lucifer might have almost missed that Duke was even there if it hadn't been for the small head-nod he got alongside the martini.

He raised his glass in Duke's general direction, then motioned for him with it.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke raised his in return and headed over.

"Looked like you could use one."

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden gave him an amused look. She didn't doubt that he was a lot older than he looked, but thousands of years had to be an exaggeration. Not even Anaander Mianaai, through her many cloned bodies had lived more than three millennia.

"I hope she stays away then. I enjoyed the trip, apart from that."

And she was wearing a very nice suit and a pair of gloves with a floral pattern.

[my_own_advocate]

"Good," Lucifer said, smirking. "That still looks gorgeous on you. Which isn't a surprise, really."

Mostly because he'd helped pick it out, but eh.

[my_own_advocate]

"Family drama," Lucifer sighed, taking a sip. "It's enough to give anyone a headache, and mine has reached divine proportions."

[betterthanaplan]

"Would have thought it started that way for you," Duke said. "Gotta say, I'm glad I don't have to deal with that shit anymore."

It was cute how he believed that.

[1000yearstoolate]

"I appreciate the help," she said, smiling over her drink. "And it's good to see that some places are at least uncivilised in a charming way."

She paused.

"Did you get the tea sets?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Every time I think I'm rid of my 'shit', it seems to insist on drifting back into view at the worst possible time," Lucifer said.

[my_own_advocate]

"They arrived yesterday," Lucifer agreed. "And the cabinet for them."

Had he mentioned he'd bought one? Oh well.

[betterthanaplan]

"Which is just disrespectful, really," Duke said. "I mean, you're on vacation."

[1000yearstoolate]

A cabinet? Seivarden raised an eyebrow slightly, smiled a little, then said:

"We should try them out some time, then. I really want to try that tea too."

She downed her drink, ordered a second one from Tiny, then briefly brushed her fingers against Lucifer's.

[my_own_advocate]

"The least they could do is wait until I went back to Los Angeles before burdening me with all their many issues," Lucifer agreed, as if he wasn't so far down into avoidance and denial that it was entirely possible he'd stay on 'vacation' until Chloe Decker retired and moved to an old person's home in Florida. "We've got angels for everything, and yet not a single therapist in the Silver City."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's mouth curved into an amused smile.

(Okay, part of him was faintly worried he was encouraging Seivarden into the kind of crush he'd have to disentangle himself from later. The rest of him was content to ignore it.)

"Well, it is your tea," he said, "And I don't think there's anyone else alive who'd appreciate it as much as you do."

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden would firmly deny there was any need for that kind of worry. She smiled back.

"Possibly Tisarwat," she said with a laugh. "I wish I could get you something in return that equalled it."

She turned that into a joke, even if it was at least half serious.

[my_own_advocate]

"I do recall you putting in your fair, spirited share this weekend," Lucifer joked, though he was talking about the distraction as much as the sex. Maybe even more.

[betterthanaplan]

". . . Therapists all go to Hell?"