✞ video

[sunlighter]

[The video screen opens to the Church of the Morningstar, a large, pristine building of white concrete and hard, sharp, modern edges. It's owner, both of the phone in possession and the church in name, stands in front of it wearing a long black overcoat with the collar pulled up on this unseasonably cold day.]

You have no idea how disappointing it is to finally come outside the prison of creation and be surrounded by the ensnarement of worship. And not of anything, but of me most importantly-- something that, I must profess, becomes more tiring by the day. You've all chosen to squander your chance to live by your desires only to build a prison of rules and governing around yourselves. Even here, having left those devices, you've so eagerly baited yourselves again. Let's change that, shall we?

[He waves his hand, and the church in front of him warps and collapses in on itself, a twisting of light that causes its viewers to blink only to be met with an entirely new creation-- a piano bar which reveals itself to intimate prohibition-style decor within. A sexily backlit 1923 Steinway piano ties together a room dotted with small tables perfect for a night of Jazz music and drinks. Lucifer takes a seat and crosses one leg over the other, different looking perhaps than those of the same name imPorts have been familiar with in the past. In fact, he bears a striking resemblance the Thin White Duke.... or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the Thin White Duke resembled him.]

'Lux'... a name I once chose impertinently to create something of my own in the entrapment of His will, seems a little unsuitable now that I've liberated myself of those titles. A new name, I think, would be more appropriate. Perhaps 'Revīvēscere'.

Comments

[pummelgranite]

Obviously bullshit, but OK.

[dendarii]

Look. I know you didn't mean for your song to do what it did. But it was still probably best that I kept away at first.

[pummelgranite]

Yeah, it woulda been. But you couldn't manage that could you?

[dendarii]

[ He flinches a bit. ]

I'm a masochist.

[pummelgranite]

[ Snorts. ]

Get off on someone else's suffering next time.

[dendarii]

[ He shrugs awkwardly. Not really. Denying any of it. ]

I don't particularly want to fight.

[pummelgranite]

[ He's an irritation in the truest sense. To see him reminds her of an open sore, painful whenever touched, and unable not to touch. He had understood her so clearly and hated what he understood. It had been more or less the first personal blessing she'd ever offered, and he made her sort of think it should be her only. ]

Then what do you want?

[dendarii]

[ Meanwhile, Miles - as always - has trouble seeing past the end of his own nose. ]

To have a drink? Start over, maybe.

[pummelgranite]

[ She looks at him a long, appraising moment. Her gaze is the very definition of piercing. As if she is looking past his deformities, down straight at his guts, and sees something twisted there as well.
The silence before she speaks is extended and uncomfortable. ]

There's no such thing as starting over. But you can get me a gin and pomegranate.

[dendarii]

[ He probably deserves that look. But it turns his stomach anyway, enough to make him look away. ]

Gin and pomegranate, then.

[ He signals for the bartender. ]

[pummelgranite]

[ She waits, silently until the Sexy Actual Cinderella Bartender makes the drink. ]

Lost the whole entourage huh?

[dendarii]

[ Wow. He's kind of impressed. Missed the reference, but impressed. ]

Mm, that's right. It's just me now. Everyone else has gone home.

[pummelgranite]

Gonna see 'em again?

[dendarii]

When I go home. Yes. Though we'll likely not remember this place.

[pummelgranite]

[gets out a cigarette ]

Uh huh. Like it never even happened.

[dendarii]

... You've seen it happen?

[pummelgranite]

Nuh uh. Not personally. But have you heard of anything else happening?

[dendarii]

No. That's the one thing that seems consistent among the few who've returned. Myself included.

[pummelgranite]

[kllk! smoke time. ]

So there you go. Hope you didn't do anything too important.

[dendarii]

[ A faint snort. ]

Oh, no. Nothing too big. Just fell hopelessly in love with the most powerful man on the planet, under conditions we can't possibly replicate back home.

[pummelgranite]

[ She lets out a huff that is about as much like a laugh as his was, and stares at her drink ]

Oh, is that all?

[dendarii]

A little telepathic codependency on top of all of it. Nothing much.

[ He slugs his own drink down. ]

[pummelgranite]

[ She could mention she moved immediately into relationships with people who are not just dead, but died before she actually existed, but why would she for any reason disclose personal info to this guy. ]

So you were brain fucking.

[dendarii]

[ They might both be a little screwed up here. Miles flushes a bit. ]

That's one way to put it. Yes, fine. We were.

[pummelgranite]

With someone you can never, ever actually have. Cool beans.