The Demon in Apartment 4B

The Plus One p2

Chapter 4-2: The Plus One

Previously: Alastor had transformed into his human self, upon the "request" of Lumina; It was his original human form before his death, actually. But no one knew that... not in this era at least. "How's this for you?" She looks him up and down and nods. "Acceptable." She was keeping herself stoic but she was surprised he actually did that.

"You look like a dry goods clerk from the 1920s."

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Lumina stared at Alastor, still trying to adjust to his human appearance. It was strange seeing him without his usual demonic features, though it brought her some form of calm because he's not as terrifying.

"What an odd thing to say, Lumi. Considering I'm from that era." Alastor chuckles, though now he was a bit thrown off. Lumina couldn't have known anything about him.., or did and was really good at being clueless. He'd really hate to have to end this arrangement early because of that. He doesn't know her all too well, of course, but Lumina just has a questionable vocabulary.

Speaking of Lumina... "Don't you call me Lumi. That's reserved for people I like and love, and I sure as hell don't like you." Lumina growls, crossing her arms defiantly as she glares at the man before her.

Who only raises an eyebrow with a slight smile at her little outburst, she takes a couple of deep breaths and looks over to her drawing table, absentmindedly. "Alright," Lumina began, crossing her arms, "If you're going to invade my personal space like this, we need a backstory. Something believable that explains why you're in my life and how we know each other. Because my friends will ask, they're..protective of me." Alastor leaned on his microphone staff, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Ah, a ruse, you say? How delightful! I do love a good act. We could say we met a couple of days ago at the coffee shop. We really hit it off and decided to hang out again." Alastor suggests;

Lumina hums...the nearest ones being like 2 Dunkin Donuts and 3 Starbucks, she goes with Starbucks as she holds resentment for Dunkin' when she burnt her mouth on way too hot coffee.

"A coffee shop encounter... Simple enough, say Starbucks for that... but what's our story? How did we connect? What are our common interests?" She really wants to cover all bases, which is something she always had to do depending on the situation.

"We could say we bonded over a shared love of jazz music. You know, got to talking about our favorite artists, and it turned out we have similar tastes." Alastor says, filling in the blanks as he looks around her room. He was being a little snoop before she came into her room, he questioned the amount of plushies on her bed, a 50/50 mix of alpacas and ducks. The ducks pissed him off.

"You like jazz?" Lumina questions in a surprised tone. "Hell is able to get music like that?"

The Radio Demon looks back over to her with a raised brow. "Yes, I do.. And of course it does, what do you humans think Hell is anyway?"

Lumina shrugs. "I was purely agnostic before you showed up and broke my second new table." She says with a huff, moving closer to him. He was being cooperative and that was new, to her. "Okay, so we met at the coffee shop, bonded over jazz music, and really hit it off. My buds know I love jazz so they'll eat that up."

Alastor gives her a blank look for a moment before grinning again. He was actually a bit curious about her tastes in Jazz. "Excellent! It seems we make quite the convincing pair. I must say, I'm rather looking forward to this evening's festivities."

Lumina rolled her eyes, unable to completely shake off her annoyance with him. "Don't push your luck.., you're not coming to my apartmentwarming party. Just be human if you're around me and people I know, okay? No causing trouble, no freaky demon shit, just..nothing of that nature."

Alastor chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Oh, my dear Lumina, where's the fun in that? But I'll play along, for now."

As they continued to iron out the details of their ruse, Lumina couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and begrudging respect for Alastor's willingness to cooperate. She knew she was walking a fine line, but if this plan could help her get through the evening without any heart attacks, it would be worth it.

"Lumina! You good in there girl? If you got distracted with your plushies again I'm coming in there!" Lonnie yells out from outside the bedroom, she also wasn't sure what to do with the meatloaf so she was worried about messing it up.

Lumina glanced back at Alastor, who was straightening his white collared shirt and adjusting his black bowtie with a self-satisfied smirk. Suppressing a groan of annoyance, she turned her attention back to the door as Lonnie knocked softly. Opening the door, Lumina was met with Lonnie's concerned gaze. "Sorry, Lon-Lon..I got a little sidetracked..?"

"What the frick are you doing in there...?" Lonnie questions, trailing off as her eyes drift curiously to Alastor, who had casually stepped up behind the short brunette. She blinks twice before looking back at her friend. "Aye yo, who the fudge is that?" She questions, as Lumina grimaced, forcing a strained smile.

"This is Alastor, a...new friend," she said, emphasizing the word 'friend' with a hint of disdain. "I kinda forgot he was here.."

Lonnie raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting skeptically between Lumina and Alastor. "How do you forget a whole ass guy?" Lonnie squints her eyes, having Lumina roll her eyes.

"I dunno, how about when I forgot to wake up; Lawrence at Penn Station?"

Lonnie hums in remembrance and looks back up at Alastor, who was a bit enthralled with their conversation. "So you made a new friend, huh?" She remarked, her tone laced with doubt.

Alastor, extended a hand towards Lonnie with a normal charming smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Lonnie. Any friend of Lumina's is a friend of mine," He said smoothly, his voice devoid of any hint of his demonic nature.

Lonnie grins and takes Alastor's hand in a firm handshake. "Nice to meet you too, Alastor."

~

With the introductions out of the way, Lonnie returned to the kitchen to continue decorating, while Lumina headed back to the kitchen now making a charcuterie board.

The atmosphere had shifted, the once cheerful ambiance now tinged with tension. Lonnie who was setting down those weird decorative paper weights and tying balloons to them looks up to Alastor as he sat on a stool at the kitchen watching Lumina do her thing she could feel his gaze on her as she meticulously arranged a charcuterie board with an assortment of cheeses, meats, and crackers. Each slice of cheese, each slice of meat, meticulously cut with fast moves and adept skill. Alastor watching her hands work the knife she held so effortlessly, he was actually impressed. Though that's something else to use against her if she gets out of hand.

"Hey Alastor, are you joining us tonight for Lumina's housewarming party?" Lonnie asks, under the impression that he was already coming.

Alastor had turned himself around on the stool to face the redhead just as Lumina stabbed the knife into the cutting board to quickly say that he wasn't but he beat her to the punch. "Why of course, dear Lonnie. I wouldn't miss it for the world!" He glances back at Lumina who was just about fuming, her angry face turned to a faux smile as Lonnie turned her attention to her when she noticed her body language.

"Sweet! That means you can help with the party favors, it's really just little noisemakers and those tiny confetti poppers." Lonnie says as she hands Alastor little baggies and various party favors.

~

As Alastor sat at the kitchen island, engrossed in the task Lonnie had given him, his eyes never strayed far from Lumina. "Why don't you add some grapes to that board? They complement the cheese quite nicely," Alastor suggested, his voice dripping with faux helpfulness watching as the short brunette clenched her jaw, struggling to maintain her composure.

"I've got it covered," She snapped, her voice betraying her frayed nerves.

Alastor chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Just trying to help," he replied innocently, though the mischievous glint in his eyes said otherwise.