Party At LUX | Open PSL | Turn Down For What

[lightsthesun]

It's two in the morning, the music's cranking, you and everybody else around you are either drunk or high or both, if not because you've been doing shots at the bar or smoking in the bathrooms, then because the atomsphere's so pumping that you feel good just being here.

In the middle of everything is Lucifer, orchestrating the chaos at the center of the party and completely in his element.

And he's waving you over.


(Open PSL for anyone who might want to bump into Lucifer at Lux. Hit me with whatever random tag you like at any time!)

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[detectivemiracle]

[ Her own arm slides around his waist, and she doesn't respond to him until they reach the elevator, the doors closing on the busy nightclub floor and finally giving them some privacy. ]

I think the person who handled it the best got to see the proof from you, in controlled circumstances, after asking for it.

[ She's referring, of course, to Linda. ]

And - [ She swallows, glancing up at the ceiling of the elevator as it climbs by way of avoiding his gaze. ] - speaking as one of the people who didn't handle it well, I would've preferred the more controlled situation.

[lightsthesun]

Would you? [The question's practically dripping with skepticism as Lucifer casts a look over at her, eyebrow raised.] So, it wasn't the fact that I'm the Devil that had you running for the hills, it was because you weren't adequately prepared? I should've done more to get you used to the idea by, oh, I don't know, telling you I was the Devil from the very first day we met?

Forgive me, Detective, but I very much doubt a pep talk beforehand would help anyone, least of all Ms. Lopez. She's Catholic for one thing and that never bodes well.

[detectivemiracle]

[ She can't help but flinch a little at his words, his tone. Not out of fear, but shame. It's a sore spot for him, and it is for her, too. Why she's suddenly poking at it, she doesn't know, but now she's here, she feels like she needs to plow through it.

The elevator finally reaches the penthouse, and she steps away from him, striding in to the bar to pour herself a drink from whatever's decanted - probably scotch. ]

I don't know. [ She says that quietly, but honestly. ] If I'd known that Linda knew? Maybe... maybe I would've made different choices. I felt alone.

But... Ella wouldn't be alone, if we chose to show her. You wouldn't be alone, either. Me, Linda, Amenadiel - we could all be there, for both of you. She's the one who reminded me, you know - that you're an angel. That you didn't start out bad, if you ever were. She always sees the best in everyone, even the Devil. And if she has her friends there, to make sure she knows it's okay? Well, that'd be a lot better than letting Michael get his manipulative claws into her, don't you think?

[lightsthesun]

[He's slower to follow after her, hesitating as he spots her expression and suddenly realises that he's wounded her without meaning to.] No, that came out wrong. I just meant - [The doors start to close and Lucifer has to throw out a hand to stop them, the mechanism juddering to a halt as he hauls the doors back without even thinking, finally striding after her and hurrying to correct himself.] I don't think now's the time. And the way you reacted -- Alright, it wasn't ideal but it's understandable and it proves my point. You can't prepare someone for something like this.

I mean, what do you suggest we do? Let her tie me up to give her the illusion of safety and negotiate a safeword? Under literally any other circumstances I'd be all for it.

[detectivemiracle]

[ Chloe just... takes a drink. And another. This was definitely not in her plans for the evening when she decided to come over, but this is what's happening. ] You're right. There isn't a good way, or a good time. There just isn't. It's big, and scary, and yeah, kind of crazy-making. [ She says this in the resigned tone of someone who knows from hard, painful experience. ]

But she's going to find out. One way or another, she's going to find out. And there are definitely things we can do to help mitigate the shock of it. For both of you. And... Lucifer. She deserves to know. As much as I do, or Linda does. She deserves to be able to make the choice, of knowing what you are and whether to keep you in her life, like we did. It's a risk, I know it is. But I don't think she'll make a different choice from me and Linda. [ By the time she's finished this speech, she's trying to catch his gaze again, affection in her eyes. ]

[lightsthesun]

Yes, but you don't know that. [If he's learned anything about humans since being on Earth it's that they're frustratingly unpredictable.] This could be the thing that tips her over the edge and I don't want to be a part of it.

[He can't. He had to endure Chloe running away from him for weeks on end and now Dan's avoiding being alone in a room with him whenever possible - to which Lucifer's responded by deliberately skulking around in dark corners just to freak him out as a sort of childish retribution for Dan's ridiculous behavior - so, no, he's not exactly jumping at the chance to expose himself like that again.] But if you're so gung-ho about keeping Ms. Lopez in the loop and possibly melting her brain then don't let me stop you, Detective. She might even be inclined to believe it if she heard it from you.

So. [This is definitely not the turn he'd expected the evening to take either so he's just going to help himself to a glass as well, clinking it against hers before knocking it back.] Consider this me giving you my blessing.

[detectivemiracle]

[ Lucifer is the one who's scared, really. Terrified. Of rejection. It's obvious to Chloe, of course - he's been rejected so much, by so many people who should've accepted him - herself included, to some extent. She's not absolved of blame there. He barely understands anything else. She can't imagine Ella would reject him like that - but he can, because that's almost all he knows.

She sighs, takes his wrist with her free hand, rubs circles into his skin. ]

Fine. I'll talk to Linda about it. If she agrees with me - [ that Ella should know - and Chloe is pretty sure Linda will agree with her - ] we can persuade Amenadiel to show her.

[lightsthesun]

[This is worse.] Wait, what? You're actually going to go through with it? [Okay, how exactly has this managed to blow up in his face so spectacularly? She wasn't supposed to call his bluff, dammit.] Alright, no, I've changed my mind. Offer rescinded.

[He's not panicking, you're panicking.] This is why the Devil doesn't go around handing out blessings, it all goes tits up sooner or later. This was quick though, even for me. [Even the hand she lays over his wrist isn't helping and, pouring his glass full to the brim, he steps away, loftily exiting out of this conversation as he heads for his bedroom in a hurry.]

[detectivemiracle]

[ Chloe does have a good poker face when she wants to. She lets him go, following leisurely behind him, up the steps, leaning a shoulder casually against the wall to watch him. ]

I don't want the decision taken out of your hands. Or hers. That's kind of my whole point, here.

[lightsthesun]

[He isn't sure where he's going, effectively and inadvertently having boxed himself in, so he paces the length of the bed, hovering a fair distance away at the end of it, sipping compulsively at his drink.] Then why are you pushing the issue? Maybe she doesn't want to know. She certainly won't thank you for it, even if the very idea of the Devil walking the Earth doesn't drive her insane.

She'll spend the rest of her life praying to a God she suddenly knows without question is real that no one had ever told her.

[detectivemiracle]

[ Lucifer is such a drama queen sometimes. Chloe sighs, and grabs his glass, setting it aside so she can wrap her arms around his neck. ]

All right, look at me. I'm not going to keep arguing with you about this tonight, but I want you to do something with me. I want us to talk about this with Linda, sometime soon. We'll just keep going around in circles forever, but Linda is always good at offering new perspectives. If nothing else, to remind you that we didn't go insane, we don't hate you forever, and we're here for you. Deal?

[lightsthesun]

[But his drink! He needs it, if only so he can keep up the pretense of looking more casual than he actually feels, and, huffing, he makes a futile grab for it before Chloe puts it out of his reach.] But I -- [Her hands looping over the back of his neck is enough to redirect his focus and he's quick to shut himself up but otherwise doesn't move except to shift back far enough to frown down the length of his nose at her. It's one of those rare occasions where he puts his considerable height to his advantage, standing stubbornly straight to keep some distance between them.] No, I can't -- I was only ever going to show you because I thought it was the only way to stop my Dad manipulating us both.

[detectivemiracle]

[ Chloe's gaze is infinitely tender, for what it's worth. He can desperately try to keep his walls up, but she's always going to be there, chipping away at them, seeing right through his pretenses. ] Really? That was the only reason?

[ She doesn't buy it. Not when she remembers him leaving her a long, confessional voicemail, once upon a time. Earnest speeches about how she ought to know the truth. He'd tried. He'd tried to show her in a way that wouldn't freak her out, more than once. She remembers. ]

Ask me, Lucifer. Ask me if I regret knowing the truth. Ask me if I hate knowing, if I wish I'd never found out.

[lightsthesun]

Well, don't you? [There's no malice to the question, none of his well-founded resentment, just complete incredulity because clearly any answer that's not of course I bloody do' must mean she's insane.] Some part of you must. After Michael, after my parents, after everything we've put you through? You must wonder how nice it would be if you still thought I was just an eccentric club owner with delusions of grandeur?

[detectivemiracle]

You mean, how nice it would be if all that stuff still happened but I just had no idea why because you were still keeping me in the dark?

[ She also has no malice in her voice, just honesty. ] No, that'd be terrible, actually. I regret a lot of things - I regret how I dealt with finding out, more than I can ever express. But no, I definitely don't want to go back to the bad old days when you were completely inexplicable and I was totally dismissive of your problems. I get to make the choice, now. Really make the choice.

[lightsthesun]

[She has him there and, as careful as she is not to lay blame at his feet, not to accuse him of anything - you lied to me, you kept things from me, you could've shown me years ago and you didn't - he lets his chin drop the same as if she'd screamed it at him, eyes falling to the floor.] Yes, but you keep choosing me and I don't understand why.

[If he dares to give Ella that same choice he already knows what her answer will be and it terrifies him. People come and go in his life all the time, there's practically a revolving door to his penthouse - or there used to be - but real, actual friends? Those are fewer and further between than Lucifer cares to admit.] No one ever chooses me, Chloe. No one.

Amenadiel coming down here and laying hands on your mother isn't what makes you special, Chloe. That is.

[detectivemiracle]

I can't explain why, except to say that I care about you. I love you. That's it.

[ She frames his face between her hands, thumbs brushing his skin lightly. ]

But I'm not the only one who's chosen you. Linda has, too. And Trixie. Even Dan will come around. Because we know you. Ella will too. I know she will. Because we're all a team, we've got each other's backs. You've been alone for a long, long time, but you're not anymore.

[lightsthesun]

... But if she doesn't come around - [He hates that they're talking about it like they're seriously considering it.] - what do we do then? Am I supposed to -- I dunno, stop coming into work? Move?

You say we're a team but from where I'm standing I'm the only one with anything to lose.

[detectivemiracle]

Of course not. You're not going anywhere, regardless, and she knows it.

[ Chloe gives him a Look. ]

She also has something to lose. What is it she's always calling you? Brother from another mother? And do you see her giving up on any of her actual, deadbeat brothers?

[lightsthesun]

Blood's thicker than water, Detective, or at least it should be. Granted, that's not really been my experience but I'd like to think that most families don't abandon each other at the drop of a hat. [Ella has no ties to him beyond a misplaced fondness for the man she thinks he is, just a quirky method actor playing the role of a lifetime with too much money and time on his hands. It won't count for anything when he suddenly and irreversibly disabuses her of that notion.] It'll be a disaster.

[detectivemiracle]

...That's a misquote.

[ Normally, Chloe would not be nitpicky, but look. Look. This is actually an important point. And also she's read a lot of Bible stuff lately, so it's almost an immediate reaction. ]

The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. That's the quote. I bet Ella knows it. And it means that sometimes, the family we choose is just as important as the family we're born into. I think Ella knows that, too. She chose us, remember? Her family wanted her to move back to Detroit, but she decided to stay here. For us. You included.

[lightsthesun]

[He flops back onto the mattress with a groan, pressing a hand over his eyes.] Oh, Christ, please, please don't start quoting scripture at me. It makes me itch all over, I swear I'm allergic or something. I'll break out in all manner of hives.

[detectivemiracle]

[ Chloe clambers after him, straddling him so her skirt rides up her legs a bit. ] You started it. Don't dish it out if you can't take it. [ She leans over him, giving him her most innocent smile. ]

[lightsthesun]

If it means we're done talking about this then I promise I'll never use another proverb again for as long as I live. [With that in mind and hoping to bring this dreadful conversation to an end, he pushes up onto an elbow to press a kiss to the underside of jaw, his other hand sweeping the length of her hair back over her shoulder.]

[detectivemiracle]

[ Well, she was hoping to provide him with a slightly more pleasant distraction. Though, that also means distracting herself. Stay strong, Decker. She raises her hand, pulls away just a bit, fingers pressing to his lips. ]

We're done for now, if we have a deal. You and me, talking to Linda about this, in the near future. Deal?