Splitting at the Seams (RadioApple)

Part 14

"A Gala?" Alastor repeated. "That's a tad anachronistic, wouldn't you say?"

Perched criss-cross at the end of his bed and watching him with a confounding amount of intent, Lucifer lifted his head with visible surprise. The two of them had been sat in companionable silence for a little over an hour - Alastor having conjured some reading material from his collection and Lucifer apparently being eager to learn a little more about him through his literary inclinations - and only now had Lucifer spoken up to inform him of Charlotte's new grant plan. There'd been a great many people who'd flocked to the hotel aftee the broadcast 'win' against Heaven, after all, and the princess of Hell wanted to finally gussy up with a grand event to make them feel integrated.

"Yeah, a bit." Lucifer said. "I did say that, but my little girl is set on it. My fault really. I raised her in a palace, so she'll act like a princess."

"Do we even have the amenities for an event on such scale?" Alastor mused, turning his gaze up to the high cieling of his quarters. "I don't underestimate the work you have done, it's a grandiose building, but I haven't seen any ballrooms about."

Lucifer turned The Great Gatbsy over in his gloved hands, resting it closed atop his lap primly. From the looks of things he'd not made it very far in since Alastor had tossed it his way. "Charlie and her friend... girl friend... friend who is a girl, but also her girlfriend." The king sighed shaking his head. "Those two had already been asking about a music hall, so we'd had renovations partway done. It should be more than enough, it's not like we're actually hosting anyone important. All we need is room for dancing and tables."

Alastor tried to picture it. It was difficult - though he'd noticed from his brief jaunts around that the place was far bigger than it had been before its... decontruction, it was still bizarre to reconcile his memories of the place he had stayed in for half a year, versus what he was discovering it now was in bits and pieces. First the music room, now an entire hall. Perhaps they could do other events in there in the future - he was sure he could win Charlie over on that, if she wasn't herself already brainstorming ideas, which she absolutely was.

But dancing, that was wonderfully nostlagic for him. Actually... depending on the type. This he voiced.

"The classic kind of dance as is appropriate, I imagine? Not any of this... modern nonsense."

Lucifer's face split into a cheshire grin, and Alastor was leaning back with a grimace even before Lucifer began encroaching his personal space. "N'aww, don't you worry buddy, we daren't dream of affecting your delicate sensibilities with a reminder of the merciless and ever-evolving passage of time!" Lucifer crooned in performance, only to burst into childish giggles when Alastor scoffed and shoved his face away forcefully with a flat palm. Extracting himself, Lucifer's smile stayed devious. "No twerking."

"I know time is passing, and I do keep up with the technological and social tide." Alastor defended, a little uppity, crossing his arms with his own book held loosely between three fingers. "That doesn't mean I need to like it."

"I don't think anyone expects you to, if that helps. I mean, look at you."

Feeling as though he should be offended, Alastor's nose scrunched. "Look at me how?"

Lucifer's arms flailed wildly, seeming to encapsulate Alastor's entire being. No verbal clarification was offered. When Alastor remained nonplussed, the devil snorted and shook his head.

"Your entire deal-io, come on! The gold-framed monocle, the three-piece ensemble, the bejewelled bow-tie, even your transatlantic accent. It's all this look you're trying to put on, it's the version of yourself you want to show us." As he spoke Lucifer seemed to shift slowly closer once again, though this time he did not exude nearly as much of a threatening energy. Instead he was appraising the overlord, not seeming to be aiming to insult at all despite how targeted his words were. "We all know you're only up for that Roaring Twenties aesthetic, no use trying to pull you out into the world of social media and trends."