Hybrid Kingdom PSL

[no1likeme]

{ the “beach” episode }
for some more light-hearted/chaotic stuff happening at the hotel throughout the plot

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[sirenaic]

Let me tell you a secret.

(( And just to be a little extra about it, Lucifer looks around suspiciously before leaning in and lifting his hand to cup one side of his mouth as he whispers: ))

You can never have enough friends.

[comminuted]

[That little puff of air exhaled through his nose might have been a laugh. Maybe.]

How do you decide who to trust? I don't think I'm very good at that yet.

[sirenaic]

I... May not be the best person to offer advice on that. I don't know if you noticed, I've been betrayed a lot.

[comminuted]

That isn't your fault.

[Conor shoots his response back so quickly that it almost sounds sharp compared to his usual tone.]

If bad people keep finding you, the only other option is to be alone forever and no one can survive that.

[sirenaic]

(( Huh. It must be something about people with that specific face... They seem to be able to take him off-guard. Lucifer blinks, then smiles a muted smile. ))

I'm bad people, remember?

[comminuted]

Then are you just being nice to me so you can hurt me or use me later?

[Conor doesn't think so, but he tilts his head to indicate that it's not a rhetorical question.]

[sirenaic]

(( Cue the lifting of a brow. ))

Would a bad person admit to that plan?

(( Then, that almost gentle looks returns to his face. ))

I'm not alone, you know. It's just that no one ever hears about my companion because I won't let anyone speak ill of him.

(( The softness remains, but something grows sharper by degrees as he looks at Conor. ))

You look a lot like him. Maybe that's why I'm soft on you.

[comminuted]

[Oddly enough, Conor's just as pleased to hear that he looks like someone special to Lucifer as he was to discover that he and Lucifer are somewhat alike. He's just thrilled to find any connections after having so many severed by his experience with the cult.]

That's okay. It's a good enough reason for me. Will you tell me about him if I promise not to say anything insulting?

[sirenaic]

He's funny. He's always been able to make me laugh.

(( That was probably important in the early days after Lucifer created Hell and took himself and his ejection from Heaven far too seriously. ))

[comminuted]

You said his face looks like mine... does he have white hair too? [Another oddity that Conor's rarely been able to share with anyone - he's not fully albino, but melanin was the first to abandon this boy.]

[sirenaic]

Not naturally, no. His hair is dark. Not black like mine, but a warmer sort of reddish brown. Want to see a picture?

[comminuted]

[Conor nods, more visibly eager than usual, and leans in toward Lucifer.]

[sirenaic]

(( He takes his phone and takes a few seconds to scroll through a lot of photos for... Yes, that one, then holds it over to Conor. ))

His name is Wolf.

[comminuted]

[Conor's gaze is fixed intently on the picture for a very long time. He tilts his head, eyes darting around to examine specific features, and a smile slowly starts to tug at his lips.]

Do I look like him? He's pretty.

[sirenaic]

(( That smile is sweet. And when he hears the reason why, Lucifer can't push down the Proud Papa feelings. He raised Wolf, after all! ))

You could be twins.

[comminuted]

[... oh. Well, Conor definitely looks more like Wolf with the rush of colour that floods his pale face.

How he's changed from the coldly arrogant boy who flounced around Set's compound and loved teasing people with his delicate good looks, and most likely came on to Lucifer at least once in a state that wouldn't allow him to remember the next day.]

[sirenaic]

(( More than once. While Lucifer turns a blind eye to what his demons do, he himself values a partner's knowing and enthusiastic consent. It's why Lucifer never partook of Set's while orgies. He never even stood by as an observer. ))

If you want to meet him, I can bring him here sometime.

[comminuted]

[Thank goodness, honestly. Conor may not remember the specifics, but he feels so comfortable around Lucifer that the awareness must be lurking somewhere in his fragmented mind.]

I'd like that. I can't go out much without my guardian yet... he dropped me off here and is coming back in a couple of hours to pick me up.

[sirenaic]

Understood. I'd invite you to come see us, but it's not appropriate for someone your age to be in my bar. I don't want to run afoul of the law.

(( That last part said with a pointed note of laughter. ))

[comminuted]

You have a bar?

[Hmm... and Conor's 17, as far as he knows, so...

He wrinkles his nose.]

I won't be able to see it for a long time.

[sirenaic]

Hmmm. I suppose you could get a tour when it's closed. Wolf and I have a place above it. No harm in showing you around if you're just coming to visit friends, right?

(( Lucifer reaches into the pocket of his leather waistcoat to produce a single business card, which he hands to Conor. On it the logo and address (with phone number) of The Last Drop. ))