Roleplaying
2004 Archive
2005 Archive
Seminars
| When: | 4 April 2005 |
| Who: | Kacela, Lucifer (NPCed), Nicodemus |
| What: | Lucifer returns to make his final decision upon Nicodemus's progress in Austin. |
Lux
A three-tiered, refined establishment, businessmen from cattle brokers to car manufacturers mingle about. The dress is stylish, no one clad in anything less than Sunday best. Tastefully appointed in earthen tones, accented with gold trimmed crystal, there's money in this establishment, both legit and otherwise. Chandeliers cling to the high ceilings and cast warm radiance over the main floor. Reminiscent of a nightclub fashioned in the Art Deco era of the late 20's, round tables serve groups of two to four. A raised stage inlaid with black, malachite, and white patterned tiles hosts acts ranging from standup to grand piano serenades accompanied by throaty redheaded bombshells.
Bay windows opposite the bar provide a breathtaking view of the Colorado River. The labradorite-finished counter is serviced by mostly silent, well groomed and respectful staff. The shelves behind the bar are well stocked with potables that make drinks of the common man like Hennessy look like a joke. An opulent staircase winds upward in a regal S curve to the living area of the proprietor and his more affluent clientele. Business and private revelry takes place in this aerie. Interestingly enough, the door leading to the basement is locked, and even the owners and shareholders aren't seen loitering about the edifice.
The change in daylight savings time has caused sunfall to come earlier to Austin tonight. Kacela stands at the bay windows, clad in typical evening finery, the white material contrasting starkly against the brown warmth of her body. One hand is clutched behind her back as she regards the lights of boats moving along the wide, greenery-shrouded river banks of the Colorado. She doesn't look towards the pianist playing Debussy in the background.
This evening, Nicholas Lyman lingers at his bay window table, refusing to mingle with the sparse crowd at the bar. It is Monday and so the patrons are, for the most part, young upstarts, business graduates looking for their first shot. They don't know that few of the Austin elite are so well to do that they can spend a Monday night at Lux. As for Lyman, he knows, if he even acknowledged them with a nod, they would latch themselves to his ankles and break into sobbing cries for funding on some overdone business scheme. So, he keeps to his table, peering from a newspaper to his cell phone from time to time.
The ensconced business owner hasn't gone unnoticed. Kacela finally slides her gaze over towards Lyman, and cruises over. She doesn't sit down immediately, instead leaning forward to rest arms upon the back of the chair opposite of him, and says airily, "He who braved the Michaelite hides from the ambitions of the young. You remind me of a wolf trying to catch a break from a litter of whelps." The words carry with them dual probes for weakness as well as a faint playfulness. "All of the outfits didn't shrink after I took them to the cleaners. You can consider your money well spent. Although..." She furrows her brow and looks to the left and right, "Where have the twins been? You'd think they'd caused a few more police reports given how eager they were to take on all of Austin's angels."
The slightly raised stage is vacant tonight, afterall Monday's are usually a slow night. But there's something extraordinary tonight happening. There's a blond headed man talking with the bartender who is lazily cleaning glasses. A smile flashes across the blond haired man's face as the bartender finally puts two and two together and cuts back his meek protest before the bartender waves the pianist up on the stage toward him, allowing the blond haired man to walk up on the stage and sit down. The fingers begin to dance on the ivory, his hands moving with a grace of a consumate professional... but more than that, with the grace of someone who truly felt and loved the music he created. The sound that comes from the piano? Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
Having scanned enough text to turn to his cell phone again, Lyman grumbles at the time display, his jaw straining as it grinds teeth together. Fortunately, Kacela arrives, causing that tightened expression, the stress, to melt away into a thin smile. "Oh, I've suffered the blades of many enemies," he returns, hardly put off by her jabs at his honour, "But, I simply do not have the patience for grovelling tonight." Kacela's mention of the "twins" provides the perfect segway as he motions toward his mobile phone sitting on the table, "I cannot seem to get a hold of Butch. I've left messages...but no answer. If the Destinite got the better of him..." It is then that the music begins to play, and knowing that there was no act scheduled for the night, Lyman spins in his seat.
Kacela deigns to slip closer to Nicodemus, extending one slender hand to draw down the newspaper leaf and to flash him an indulgent grin even as she hears his indignation. "You know, I wouldn't be too terribly surprised if that conflagration over a week ago was his doing, and he somehow managed to catch himself in the middle of it all, him being so clever and all." She follows his gaze toward the stage, as if puzzled by his consternation. "Is it being played... too well?" The distance makes the player's exact identity difficult to discern. However, with head tilted ever so slightly to the side, she clutches elbows with her palms. The train of her dress glitters in a turquoise and ultramarine riot as she creeps forward, silent, intent in her scruity. Awareness begins to wash over her face as the exact lines of the player's jawline, and the intensity of those blue eyes, becomes apparent.
Lyman's first reaction is to wave to the bar, to summon somebody to remove the young punk that's thought taking to the piano will get him noticed. But, something stops that hand before it ever snaps its command. Perhaps it is the perfection of the music. But, more likely, it is the familiar form of the First Balseraph. Lyman's lip quivers, if but for a moment, before will sets it in a neutral line. Now, he finishes off his earlier thought on Butch, "It may not reflect well, on him or I." Still, he flashes a smile in Lucifer's direction, followed by a deep bow of his head. He will meet his judgment head on.
The Moonlight Sonata comes begins to fade, but without a second's pause, the piano work begins to pick up again with the introduction of Beethoven's Fur Elise. Lucifer's eyes are closed, his fingers dancing across the off-white and black ivories through the high and low notes till he reaches the conclusion of the song. Standing and ignoring any calls from other patrons here for more, he steps off the stage and heads right for the two who've just gotten up to head toward him. Not a word comes from the Morningstar yet.
Lyman is left standing at his table, as Kacela instantly moves in to greet the Morning Star. His jaw tightens again. To catch up, Lyman draws upon the swift walk that Lux staff use when the bar and lounge are actually filled with Austin's demanding upper class. It is characterized by long strides, swift, sure, but always tempered by a grace that says...no, we're not busy. Do you need anything? I'll get it for you. Certainly, it is the first time that Lux employees have seen the owner ever employee such speed...speed veiled by professional calm. Drawing closer to the stage, Lyman bows his head a second time, "My liege, your appearance here is an unexpected one, though always welcome. Can I get you anything?"
Kacela drapes herself over one seat, raptly watching the work. Some sense of decency drives her to not interrupt, eyes wide as if she had been thunderstruck. As the gaze slips over her, a sense of insignificance consumes her in the presence. She manages a perfunctory nod, warmed perhaps by the recollection of the last encounter, but wary enough still to not push her luck. Significantly, her gaze slips over to Nicholas, knowing full well that it was his show after the talk from Lucifer's last appearance.
Lucifer stands for a moment as the two approach him in a swifter pace once they see him approaching. He takes a step to the side and sits at the bar and waves for the bartender to bring over a drink. A thin smile forms on Lucifer's lips as he turns on the stool he's sitting on, "You caught me in a good mood and asked me for a boon. I've come to deliver that which I promised." Lucifer extends a hand to Nicodemus.
As the gentlemen get to it, Kacela half-closes her eyes, content to listen for the nonce. She settles a discreet distance away, and then quietly orders a "Dragon's Blood sangria, please" in an alto croon. Slender fingers lace themselves together as she awaits the pomegranate and black cherry supplemented drink.
After Lucifer makes his order, Lyman waves his own hand at the bartender, a dangerous spark in his eyes implying that this man's requests come first and foremost. Though his rush to greet the Morning Star at the stage certainly would have made that clear, he is not about to take any chances...risk that his staff did not catch his cordial greeting of the mystery pianist. It seems to pay off, because he hears those words...his boon shall be granted. Lyman's expression is instantly changed, the glower aimed at the bartender replaced by an almost unnatural look. It is a wide grin, and through it a moderate chuckle escapes, along with Lyman's earlier fear and worry. Now, he takes the hand boldly, though his head immediately drops in gratitude, "Thank you, sir. For this chance. You shall not regret it."
Lucifer doesn't shake the hand, but instead squeezes it tightly, easily cutting off circulation through the vessel's fingers for a moment or two. The grin that's on Nicodemus's face before he bows his head is enough to make Lucifer narrows his eyes, which only tighten at Lyman's comment. "Oh, I'm sure you won't. For if you fail, it won't be I who regrets it." And just like that, the Morningstar disappears. Any humans in the bar don't notice the sudden disappearance, all of them being nudged mentally to forget the blond haired man.
"Rank doubles both honors and horrors," Kacela remarks dryly as she takes a sip from her glass. "I suppose I should count myself lucky for choosing to not press my luck with him." She finally raises her gaze to scrutinize Nicodemus's reaction, a faint lilt of inquiry coming from her. "Nicholas?"
Under the strength of Lucifer's handhold, Lyman is brought to one knee, and then two. Still, he does not resist, he endures it, never once reaching up with his free hand in an attempt, however foolish, to break the Morning Star's grip. On the floor, he remains until Lucifer disappears. Then, he rises up, not mourning the red markings on his palm, but smiling in wonder of its new strength. His gaze trailing back to Kacela, Lyman balls his hand into a fist, only to unclench it. He is reacquainting himself with his power when he says, the very pleased first son, "The verdict. We have it...and now we have work to do."
Kacela mm-hmms, rolling the words exchanged in her mind, even as her gaze goes down to the floor, and then back up with Lyman's form. "Well, unless he directly downloaded a plan into your brain through that ligament-bruising grip, I think I might need some enlightening. Shall we walk?" She seems tensed to accomodate, although more than just a single note of envy accompanies the tautness across her shoulders.
Shifting in his suit, as if finding it tight, Lyman nods in agreement. "No," he states flatly, "I'm suddenly inspired to settle this labour dispute. Negotiations have already been moving in my favour...and now." Lyman does not finish the though. He starts toward the exit, not pausing a step as he passes her and continues on toward the exit. "But, I'll be in touch," he adds, again his voice making no attempt at engagement. Evidently, this new found power has to be walked off...and Lyman intends to take Dupont's union for a spin. But, Lyman catches himself, before stepping outside the door. "Sorry, my dear," he says with a shake of his head, "We will talk about this at greater length...soon. In the mean time, worker's benefits must be decreased...though, there is one I will defend. My employee's do need good social work."
Kacela quirks a brow at Nicodemus, and just shakes her head, a decidedly green tinge to her psyche. She herself begins to meander towards one of the other exits, glass coming with her.
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