The Boardwalk, Thursday Afternoon

[apologizeswithpie]

Gregorith had decided to test the waters a bit and was without his disguise as he sat on a bench looking out over the water. It was making him feel a bit on edge, waiting for...he didn't know what, so he was looking a bit extra scowly.

He was attempting to relieve this anxiety with his sketchbook. He was either jotting down art project ideas while doodling a rough approximation of the view, or sketching the view while idly jotting down ideas.

Bird bath, planter, scrying bowl, abstract sculpture, coffee mug.

The big one that he'd circled was a physical map of the island that could come apart to illustrate how it had grown.

He was more interruptable than he probably realized.

(Open of course)

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[my_own_advocate]

And lo, there was one of the inhabitants of the boats drifting in that same harbor, squinting as he hopped off the Rouge and headed to the boardwalk. "Are you trying to spy on us?" Lucifer called. "Because that's an incredibly slow and ineffective way to do it."

[apologizeswithpie]

Eep!

Having had Lucifer pointed out to him at the party, Gregorith knew who this was, and he really did bear a strong resemblance to his boss. Which was partly why he rose respectfully and assumed the professional demeanor that his Lucifer kept telling him was unnecessary.

"No sir I assure you that's not what I was doing." He held up his sketch pad. "I was just..." Daydreaming? Brooding? "Trying to organize my thoughts."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer squinted at his face, ignoring all of that. "You do know Halloween was a week ago?" he said. "And that that demon face is very culturally appropriative."

[apologizeswithpie]

Gregorith had never really thought about that before, he wasn't sure if he would be offended by demon costumes or not. He'd pretty much gotten used to the idea of them being assumed to be fictional or evil.

"Actually sir I am a demon. My name is Gregorith."

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh."

A bit of squinting.

"Which section are you from, then, Gregorith?"

He had just rearranged Hell. Had he accidentally sent some demons running free again?

[apologizeswithpie]

"Well sir, I'm currently on sabbatical but my regular job is running level nine. Oh but I'm from a different universe's Hell, so that may mean something different where you're from."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer squinted. "... Which universe?"

Because some of them overlapped.

Though he'd probably remember installing stairs...

[apologizeswithpie]

"I...don't know if it has a name. We just call it the universe." Something to check on. Sharkie would probably immediately start a contest to see who could come up with the best name for it and try to name it Steve or something.

"Does yours have a name?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, no. It's the universe, obviously."

Lucifer had grown to comprehend the concept of a multiverse where his Father wasn't the divine creator, but that did not mean he had internalized it.

"You said 'level 9', didn't you? Would you characterize your way of getting to work as more of a stairs or more of an elevator situation?"

[apologizeswithpie]

And far be it from Gregorith to give anyone existential angst.

"Well sir I usually use the elevator but sometimes if I decide I really need the exercise I'll take the stairs. Because of my position I actually spend most of my time on the admin level unless a soul I'm particularly interested in comes through." Also he didn't want his skills to get rusty.

[my_own_advocate]

Oh, Lucifer's density on the matter was concrete covered in titanium alloy, don't you worry, Gregorith.

"So both?" Lucifer concluded, making a gesture with his hand that was meant to communicate... a descent? Maybe? "Interesting architectural choice. Personally I'm a big fan of elevators."

[apologizeswithpie]

"I was a kid when they were invented so for a while they were quite the novelty. I think I remember our Lucifer being slightly grumbly at first." But not as grumbly as Leviathan was when his typewriter got replaced with a computer.

[my_own_advocate]

"Your Lucifer?"

Oh, Lucifer looked offended.

"And who is this inferior copy that goes by my name?"

Luce.

Luce.

Luce.

[unusual_sith]

Lana hadn't been back to Fandom for a while with things so busy back home, but she was determined to try to spend Homecoming here. She had a flat, it might as well see some use.

It was a pleasant surprise to see someone she didn't know. And unless Earth had somehow imported Devaronians, he was obviously from her galaxy, right?

"Hello," she said, waving. "When are you from?"

That was a totally normal opening sentence, right?

[apologizeswithpie]

It really was difficult to remain scowly when people just talk to you like you aren't scary.

"Hello," he waved back. "I'm not entirely sure how to answer that, as the place I hail from exists somewhat outside of time. But I would guess roughly around 2020 something."

He closed his sketchbook and rose.

"I'm Gregorith, from the afterlife of another universe. It's a pleasure to meet you."

[unusual_sith]

Lana paused. "Are you not from Devaron, then? My apologies." She held out a hand. "Lana Beniko."

[apologizeswithpie]

He shook her hand, and shook his head. "I don't know where that is, but the geography of the mortal world was never my best subject." Oh wait. "Or, maybe not the mortal world. Is Devaron your universe's Hell?"

[unusual_sith]

"I suppose that depends upon your definition," Lana said wryly. "But no, it's a planet in my galaxy, and the native species men are humanoid and red with horns."

So you see her confusion!

[apologizeswithpie]

He certainly did, and *gasp!* aliens?!

"Oh, I can see why you'd think so then. Do they have tails?" he asked, raising his own from under his long coat. "And, only the males? Do the women not have horns?"

[unusual_sith]

"No tails, no," Lana said. "And the women don't have horns. They're quite different, actually. Furred, I believe. I've only ever met the men; the women tend to stay at home and run the government."

The men mostly ran around the galaxy getting into trouble. Gault.

[apologizeswithpie]

Run along and play boys, the grownups have work to do and don't need you underfoot?

"That's very interesting. Every, I guess I could say species, that I know don't have that much of a physical difference. Of course our part of the afterlife is geared towards humans so that might be why."

Which came first, the denizens of the afterlife or people? No one he knew, knew.

"Are there a lot of sentient civilizations where you're from? I only know about the ones on Earth."

[unusual_sith]

Pretty much! Men were such trouble.

"Oh, yes," Lana said. "It was so strange when I first came here, to be surrounded by almost nothing but humans. But you said you're from the afterlife? Or an afterlife, I suppose. I've met ghosts before, but you're definitely not one of them."

[apologizeswithpie]

Greg still wasn't sure how ghosts worked. A lot of the activity related to hauntings were the result of teenage demons being silly, but not all. He himself may or may not have pulled a prank or two during his youth.

"Not a ghost, no. I'm a demon. We live primarily in the afterlife realm called Hell, which is connected to several other realms, all relating to human cultural beliefs. I know that there are non-human afterlives, but no one I know has ever seen them."

Well, maybe Cthulhu but he'd never give a straight answer about that.

[unusual_sith]

And Force ghosts were probably different, anyway.

"How fascinating! You know, I have no idea what our afterlife is like," Lana said. "As far as I know, it's just rejoining the Force. To varying extents."

[apologizeswithpie]

"I'm not sure, but that sounds similar to what happens when demons and other denizens of the afterlife die. We become one with the fabric of the universe. Am I getting that close to right?"