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. ]]

Comments

[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.

[texted3times]

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

[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.

[my_own_advocate]

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

[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]

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

[my_own_advocate]

"And I'd hardly want to discourage you from trying," Lucifer said with a wink, and another flourish, and brought the song to an end.

[my_own_advocate]

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

[1000yearstoolate]

Yes, she saw that flourish.

"So, I have a question," she Seivarden said, resting her elbows on the piano.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer tilted his head, grinning, intrigued. "Well, ask it, then."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Just how terrible is a long island tea? If it's free?"

Blame Summer.

[my_own_advocate]

"Depends on how drunk you want to be, darling," Lucifer said, reaching for a cigarette.

[1000yearstoolate]

"It's that sort of drink?" Seivarden asked.

She rarely minded getting drunk unless it interfered with other things.

[my_own_advocate]

"The Long Island Ice Tea was invented entirely to get people as drunk as quickly and efficiently as any one drink can accomplish," Lucifer said, sliding the cigarette into his mouth and snagging his lighter.

[1000yearstoolate]

"I understand there's no actual tea in it," Seivarden said. "Although that's the reason Summer suggested it. I think she plans to make it without jello though."

She took a sip of whiskey.

"Of course, she's not to be trusted when it comes to taste. That's why I'm asking you."