The Devil's Nest, Tuesday Night

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer was back behind the piano tonight, no worries, Eric.

He'd just be celebrating the allocation of semi-final spots for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest by playing a haunting rendition of Love Love, Peace Peace.

Without singing. You were welcome, this time.

[[ the devil's nest is open. ]]

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[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden ordered a whiskey, then headed over to the piano.

"Back to playing?"

She glanced at Lucifer's hands, sure that he didn't mind, then smiled at him.

[my_own_advocate]

"When I'm in the mood," Lucifer said.

He didn't mind. In fact, he added an extra bit of flourish to the next part.

[1000yearstoolate]

"I admit I prefer it when you're in the mood," Seivarden said, leaning against the piano, sipping her drink. "What are you playing?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Have you ever heard about Eurovision?" Lucifer asked. "It's a ridiculous singing competition that Europe uses to blow off steam and avoid waging endless war on each other again like they used to for centuries."

[1000yearstoolate]

"They fight wars with songs?"

Only on this planet. Well, maybe on some others too, the Radchaai wouldn't have paid attention.

"Doesn't that make them vulnerable to attack from outside enemies?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Because they're not killing each other all the time?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"Singing isn't really an efficient way to build up a military force," Seivarden said.

She made a gesture with her hand, one wearing an elegant glove with a floral pattern.

"I don't know anything about politics on this world. As long as they don't do anything stupid like blowing up the whole planet."

[my_own_advocate]

"They have actual armies, they just don't work out their irritations with their neighbors by invading and picking off fiefdoms left and right anymore," Lucifer said dryly.

[1000yearstoolate]

"At least they give you songs to play," Seivarden replied, not really interested in discussing the local military forces.

"Which I prefer to local armies. Do you have plans for tonight?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Are you planning to start claiming my every Tuesday night?" Lucifer said, amused. "No, I don't have plans, actually. Yet. Sometimes 'plans' surprise me."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Just a question," Seivarden said, smiling. She took a sip from her drink. "Just giving you an option."

[my_own_advocate]

"I do like options," Lucifer mused.

And Seivarden was a fun and comforting one.

[1000yearstoolate]

"Don't worry, I'm not going to start making assumptions," Seivarden said with a laugh. "You are a good option, so it would be silly of me not to try."

The best option on the island, actually, but she wasn't going to say that.

[texted3times]

"I know that song," Eric, secret Eurovision groupie, said.

[my_own_advocate]

"Of course you do," Lucifer called, "You're Swedish."

[texted3times]

"Are you going to set the piano on fire for the art?" Eric teased.

[my_own_advocate]

"Set fire to a perfectly fine piano?" Lucifer said. "... Only if we have a new one waiting in the wings."

[texted3times]

"I used that money to rent Polish butter churners," Eric said. "Sorry."

[my_own_advocate]

"I'm still sad I didn't get on a plane to meet one of them when I had the chance..."

[texted3times]

"Well now we're both sad about that," Eric said. "Why did you turn that down?"

[my_own_advocate]

"It felt kind of rude to cancel on an orgy at the last minute."

[texted3times]

Eric laughed. "And you couldn't invite them to join in? Were there visa issues?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Please, you know Americans," Lucifer drawled. "Half of them don't have passports."

[texted3times]

"I've met ones who live in Shreveport and have never gone to New Orleans," Eric said, scandalized.

[my_own_advocate]

"... It's New Orleans and they live in Shreveport."