The Demon in Apartment 4B

Practice isn't perfect

Previously: Lumina bristled at the insinuation, her voice tinged with bitterness. "N-no, I'm just...cautious of them. One of those little bitches almost mauled my arm once, and I didn't even provoke it!" (This is actually something that happened to me, in a CVS no less, lmao.)

She pouts in irritation and goes back to feeding the ducks to avoid dwelling on the topic any further. Alastor hummed thoughtfully, surprised to find someone who shared his aversion to dogs. It seemed that even in their differences, they had found a common ground.

Chapter 6: Practice isn't perfect

What Lumina is could be titled as an actor, though it's not the only thing she does. She was forced to be a jack of all trades so that's what she is, with a good knowledge of how to play a couple of instruments, with vocal talent that surpasses those of her colleagues, and the ability to learn any dance after a long amount of practice.

She's done everything to please her parents, everything so she could get their love. That's all she wanted, even though she knew she should've given up by the time her father left.

But hey...a child can dream, right?

As Lumina prepared for her comeback performance practice, she couldn't shake off the lingering anxiety gnawing at her insides. Despite her talents as an actor, musician, and dancer, the pressure of returning to the stage after a hiatus weighed heavily on her mind. She had spent years honing her skills, forced by her parents to become a jack of all trades in a desperate bid to earn their love. But even as she excelled in her craft, the void left by her father's departure remained, a constant reminder of her futile efforts to win her parents' affection.

Today marked the beginning of a week-long intensive rehearsal schedule at the studio, where Lumina would join her fellow performers in preparing for the upcoming show. As she glanced at herself in the bathroom mirror, she tried to muster the courage to face the challenges ahead. "You've got this," she whispered to herself, forcing a confident smile. "It's just another performance, nothing you haven't done before."

Deep down, though, Lumina couldn't shake off the sense of unease that gnawed at her soul. She had long harbored dreams of pursuing a different path, one free from the constraints of her parents' expectations. Yet, the words of Micha, her agent, echoed in her mind, urging her to seize the opportunity and prove her worth on stage once more.

With a resigned sigh, Lumina pushed aside her doubts and gathered her belongings, determined to face whatever challenges awaited her. As she made her way to the studio, a sense of apprehension mingled with anticipation, each step bringing her closer to the stage she had once called home.

Inwardly, Lumina made light of the fact that Alastor was nowhere to be seen today, grateful for the reprieve from his presence. She hoped that he would remain occupied with his own affairs in Hell, allowing her some semblance of peace as she embarked on her journey back to the spotlight.

~

Another pleasant valley Sunday, as Lumina arrived at the studio for her comeback performance practice, she was met with a mix of anticipation and dread. However, any sense of relief was short-lived as she was immediately greeted by Micha's tight hug, despite her disdain for the physical contact, Lumina couldn't deny the warmth in her heart at seeing Micha's familiar face again.

The studio was bustling with activity as performers prepared for the practice session. Lumina scanned the room, her eyes landing on her longtime rival, Bertha. Tall, talented, and undeniably envious, Bertha was a formidable opponent on stage and off.

Bertha's glare bore down on Lumina as she approached, her arms crossed in a display of defiance. "Well, well, well. Look who's back, thinking you can shoehorn your way in after you've been gone so long," She sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.