The Devil's Nest, Tuesday Night

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer had been extremely busy last week. And there were some string lights up on the ceiling now, absolutely.

This Tuesday? A bit of the opposite.

He slumped back in a seat in the corner of the lounge area with a big glass of wine and spent most of the evening there.

TODAY'S SPECIAL:
Wine, [smudge] percent off

[[ I feel like I haven't relaxed since Monday. Monday last week. So method RP for all. ]]

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[betterthanaplan]

“So does that smudge mean I can name my own price?”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer looked up from his slump on the sofa. He managed a small smile. "You," he said, "Can always name your own price."

[betterthanaplan]

“Promises, promises.” Duke came over to slouch next to Lucifer on the couch. (And by “next to”, the narrative means “all but in the lap of”.) “You look like an office drone five minutes before five pm. What’s up?”

[my_own_advocate]

"I've been having a devil of a time figuring that out," Lucifer admitted. "It's as if my heart simply isn't in it today, but why? I always enjoy the club."

[betterthanaplan]

“Everyone has their off days,” Duke said. “How’s the Baltimore place going?”

[my_own_advocate]

"Hm? Oh, fine," Lucifer said, sliding a distracted arm around his waist. "Might take you two up there next week, if you're interested."

[betterthanaplan]

“Field trip! Sounds like fun.”

Duke stretched his arm over the back of the couch and rested his fingers on the nape of Lucifer’s neck.

[my_own_advocate]

"It won't involve any oysters or weird little museums," Lucifer warned him, leaning just ever so slightly against him.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke ran his fingers lightly up and down Lucifer’s spine.

“Of course not. Those are things we do on my field trips. This one is a Lucifer field trip.”

[my_own_advocate]

It felt nice. Duke's fingers. Possibly the first thing not to feel remotely disappointing, this evening.

"A lot of the interior decorating is coming along rather well. It's all in a sort of neo-art deco style," Lucifer said, relaxing another incremental inch. "I quite like the drapes, personally. Of course the place doesn't have the history of Lux, but it's got enough class to pass."

[betterthanaplan]

“History isn’t everything. Just means you have something to build.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Spoken like an American," Lucifer teased.

[betterthanaplan]

“An American, a mortal, a guy whose own history is a raging trash fire. . . .” Duke shrugged. “If you wanted history, you’d be setting a club up in one of your castles.”

[my_own_advocate]

"A fun thought, but no," Lucifer said, picking up his glass to have a sip of wine. "Too much effort, and too much distance. At least until we're all ready to move to Europe or wherever."

[betterthanaplan]

“Alas, someday,” Duke said, resting his whole palm on Lucifer’s neck now, enjoying the warmth of his skin. “Meanwhile. . . . You’re stuck with us history-less Americans.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's mouth curved a little further. "Well, I suppose I can endure," he said.

He blew out a breath. "I really don't have any idea why I'm feeling this slump, now."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke shrugged. “Sometimes you just feel a little. . . blah. There isn’t always a reason.”

Linda might disagree with that one.

[my_own_advocate]

The narrative could've offered a few clues, too, such as how Lucifer was running out of road in terms of running away from the God thing.

But as if Lucifer would notice those.

"I'd like it to stop now," he said. "I have a warm boyfriend, a drink, and a lovely club. What on Earth do I have to feel-- blah-- about?"

[betterthanaplan]

“Not enough sunshine?” Duke asked. “Maybe you’re self-actualizing seasonal affective disorder.”

[my_own_advocate]

"...Perhaps we need more string lights, as well."

[betterthanaplan]

“Festive and uplifting,” Duke said. “That could work.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Indoors," Lucifer clarified. "We have quite enough out on deck now, I believe."

[betterthanaplan]

“The Rouge is basically a floating lighthouse now, yeah.”

[my_own_advocate]

"To be fair, it is pretty," Lucifer mused. "Especially after some pot."

[betterthanaplan]

“Just think how it must look on shrooms,” Duke said. “. . . Not that I’ve done those in a while.”

Meeting the living embodiment of insanity on a bad trip had turned him off the harder stuff.