unknownballad | Hybrid Kingdom PSL

[This dude? Feeling shy? David can't help but chuckle.]

Man, you have got nothing to be shy about. [Success! There's no chance of mistaking David's words as simple reassurance - he's definitely coming on to Lucifer now that he's feeling a bit more confident.

He's not telling the truth about the first guy, though. No way. Wrinkling his nose a little, David shakes his head:]

Him? Nah, he tried it out but I'd already made up my mind who I wanted to meet tonight.

(( Siwan is an infrequent visitor to the hotel. In spite of what's going on behind the scenes (and how much or little he may know of the finer details), he still has his own life to live. His job, his family, all the regular expectations to maintain. But whenever he can manage it, even if it's only for a few hours, Siwan shows up here. To spend time with Sobek, of course. He's not as directly embroiled in all this as some of the others. He's just bankrolling what they need.

Today's a little different. His wife is away for travel so he's been able to plan for at least a long weekend here at the hotel. It's been nice to simply lounge at the pool without worrying that someone might wonder why he's there. For once, he could say he's a guest and ergo belongs there. Mostly, he's stretched out on his lounge chair, dark swim trunks and a light polo-styled shirt on, watching someone else (Sobek) having a lot of fun in the water. ))

(( Oh no. Oh no, oh no! Siwan's eyes get wider as he watches Seb take a running start toward the pool. There's definitely going to be a big splash that the people who aren't paying attention aren't going to be prepared for! He's paying attention and he still doesn't manage to get his head turned in time (maybe because he's so fixated on Seb that he doesn't want to look away for even a second).

After the initial splash, Siwan wipes the water from his eyes and fights against the continued ripples to make his way over to where Seb landed, laughing all the while. Seb's always so happy when he's in the water. It's a little contagious. ))

[David doesn't spend a huge amount of time around the pool, being an indoor type by nature and still rather self-conscious around so many gods and their godly bodies, but he does get dragged out now and then. Mostly by Lucas but sometimes by Anubis or Sobek. It's thanks to Sobek that David first notices the handsome older man who sporadically shows up at the hotel and never quite seems to fit in - Sobek will take any opportunity to discuss his amazing boyfriend and apparently, David comes to discover, that's him.

Sobek doesn't mention whether or not he's human, but David has a hunch. Very few of the supernatural beings here look much older than 25 and The Boyfriend is at least pushing 40. That's what leads David to grab the lounger beside him after storming off on Lucas yet again and finally ask:]

Hey... you're human too, aren't you?

(( Does he mention whether or not his amazing boyfriend is married? Cause that wedding band's probably a strong indicator... (Sorry, Seb, he never takes it off [because he's terrified of losing it or forgetting it])

Siwan blinks at the question. It still seems odd, even knowing what he knows. But the confusion is incredibly short lived, a gentle kind of smile replacing it as he nods. ))

I am, yes. Very human.

(( He sits up a bit to stretch out a hand in greeting. ))

Siwan.

[OOP. David's eyes barely linger on the ring but he does notice. So many clandestine romances around this place...]

David. [He keeps the handshake quick since his own hand is still chilly from the pool.] I'm not xenophobic or anything, I swear, but... man, sometimes I just need to talk to another normal person for awhile. This is the most humbling place on the damn planet.

I'm not the sort to walk away from a problem.

(( Especially when said problem will, if not stopped or mitigated, concern the whole world. ))

He also made it a little personal when he came after me directly. Twice.

(( He, the very least of Set's enemies by Emmanuel's own estimation. That guy's petty. But maybe Emmanuel can be, too. ))

Horus saved me both times.

(( Just to clarify he's not some super special bestest boy ever who could've bested a god on his own. ))

Not while I was there, unfortunately. It would've been hilarious to see someone else's reaction.

(( Maybe he should hang out in there to explain the joke to the ones who don't get it. ))

I'll keep my eyes open and report back!

Spoken with the honor of a warrior... which would naturally offend such a vile creature.

[Inari's more than happy to throw critical levels of shade at Set, and only gets more so every time he learns something new about him. A pitiful excuse for a god.]

It's hard to believe that Horus and his father come from the same pantheon as him, isn't it? Never mind the same family. They've both been exemplars of courtesy and respect since I arrived.

Want something to drink? I've got coke and coolers.

[He plunks a cooler on the counter for himself and stays in the crouch while he waits for a response.]

I've been thinking maybe it's too niche for the crowd here, y'know? Too terminally online.

What's the sweetest thing you've got? I'll take that.

(( Lucas looks around once, not because he's being specifically nosy, but because he's looking for a place to sit. ))

I think it's funny. Hardly our fault they aren't up-to-date with humor.

(( He hums in agreement. Not even just knowing probably 80% or more of the people here aren't human... ))

It's a little unfair how attractive they all are.

(( Said extremely quietly. ))

Right?!

[So it's not just David who can't stop noticing - even Siwan, who's dating (having an affair with) one of them can barely handle it! He's so excited by this revelation that he maybe blurts out his response at top volume after Siwan took such care to be quiet, but he does at least drop his voice back to a conspiratorial volume afterwards.]

Right? And in all different ways, too! Like - well, I don't need to tell you about Sobek, but Horus is this big, buff warrior-looking guy with the scar and everything, and then Osiris is prettier than any girl I've ever met but somehow still handsome too? And the newer guy... Anubis? Basically the reason cuteness aggression as a concept exists, I want to hug him and punch him into the sun at the same time. That's without even getting into the Japanese ones, or the fucking devil.

[So, yes. David is a very safe space for talking about good-looking men, Siwan. And no, he didn't bring up angels, but that's just because he's very angry at Lucas right now.]

[Sweetest, huh? He pulls out a vodka cooler that's apparently meant to be rocket pop flavoured and hands it to Lucas as he stands up and kicks the bar fridge shut. That's about four different kinds of sweet in one, it'll have to do.

There's a couch and two armchairs in front of the entertainment unit with the TV, which is where David parks himself - draped all the way across the couch with his feet still hanging off the arm.]

Still weird to me that you're the most normal one here in some ways, Wheely Boy.

(( See how far a little ego stroking can go? David's gained so much confidence from one little lie (which he may or may not actually believe). Lucifer leans on the bar, lifting his drink to his lips, then dragging his tongue over them when he sets it down. ))

Handsome and decisive.

(( Then he leans closer, far closer than just two people talking need to be. Close enough to telegraph to anyone paying attention to them that this is a flirtation. ))

What else have you already made up your mind about happening tonight?

(( Listen! Siwan's very closeted, okay? Just because he's seeing someone on the down low doesn't mean he's used to seeing a lot of very attractive men parading around in next to nothing!

And please keep your voice down, David! ))

...The devil??

[... did Mr. Beautiful here ever give David a name in return?

...... and is there a reason David feels a bit nauseous with him so close, or is that just performance anxiety?

............... and what is that scorched smell?!

Unimportant. All unimportant. David just tilts his chin up with a cocky grin.]

You and me are gonna take our drinks over to one of those private booths and see how much we can get away with before we get kicked out. Then we're gonna head to my room.

Yeah, dude. Lucifer's real, and he's on our side. That's how bad Set is.

[David's utterly thrilled to be able to deliver this news, especially to someone who's just as shocked as he was when he found out, and it shows.]

I haven't met him yet, but I just assume he's probably hot too.

(( Let's see if he keeps laughing when she rises from her seat and stalks over to the pool edge... Only to dip a toe into the water to weakly splash him in turn. ))

Brat.

I can tell. Your eyes look clearer.

Really?

[Now that idea pleases Conor a lot. He's felt so horribly foggy since he woke up at the hospital... maybe some of that was because he's forgotten what clarity feels like.

It feels a bit silly to ask Lucifer this, but suddenly Conor wants to know.]

Um - how have you been? Since... all that.

(( It's true. There's more going on in his eyes when Lucifer sees them now. And lingering haze he can easily attribute to whatever medications the humans have deemed best for him. Not because of whatever hypnotic effects Setekh had.

Lucifer stands upright then promptly plops down in a chair next to Conor. If they're going to have a conversation, he may as well be comfortable for it. ))

Me? Oh, I'm someone who likes to stay busy. You know, there really aren't that many people that make it to Heaven these days.

(( There's only so much he can do to mask his aura and move through the world. Though, honestly, right now he could do more but being where he is, it seems like the effort he's putting in is plenty. Hardly his fault if one human gets a little too close, right? Right!

Those dark eyes dart off to one of the aforementioned private booths, all comfy and cozy and private with their curtains, then slowly return to David. His teeth catch his lower lip before he nods. Good plan! ))

How much we can get away with will depend entirely on how quiet you can be.

(( With a hop, he's off the stool on his feet. And very short in case David didn't notice that before. ))

Shall we?

[Holy shit, he's so hot. David doesn't even care about how small he is - if anyone has ever qualified as a short king, it's this guy. The real question is whether Lucifer noticed just how long David's legs are, because he towers over the Prince of Darkness once he's standing at his full height.]

Yeah. [David's voice is husky with anticipation.] But no promises on staying quiet.

[David can't resist the urge to sit right at the center of the booth's long bench seat and rest his arms along its back, legs spread and head tipped back like he's some high roller mob boss. Eyes lidded, he looks up at Lucifer and pats one of his thighs as an invitation.]

[Conor actually turns toward Lucifer just a bit once he's sat down, which is a rare show of trusting body language for him. Lucifer inspires such a strange combination of nostalgic and safe feelings now, one Conor never thought he'd feel again.

Right... if Lucifer really is Lucifer, then he's in charge of Hell. And there are multiple afterlives just like there are multiple gods.]

Did we get worse, or just less obedient?

Hybrid Kingdom PSL

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