17375/The Open Door: Vigil

The Open Door: Vigil
Date of Scene:	08 March 2024
Location:	Lux
Synopsis:	Atrice meets with Lucifer about the hellgates.
Cast of Characters:	Lucifer, Atrice Duckstein
Tinyplot:	The Open Door

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Lucifer has posed:
The conversation wasn't long, in text -- it boiled down to sporatic responses from Larry, and then out of the blue, a suggestion that they should just meet up and sort out the 'game plan.'

The address given? A specific one in a commercial area in the Upper West Side, not far from the Beacon Theater. Google maps displayed it loudly as a nightclub, but there could be other things there as well, presumably.

On arrival, it is exactly and only that: a nightclub. As it is mid-morning, the place is mostly quiet, but there is a line outside. A bunch of people with papers in their hands are fixing their hair and doing warm-up lunges and movements of dance. It looks like an audition line, with a woman in the front managing the front of that line. She's memorable: Ducky saw her before, and knows her to be a demon. And an associate of Larry's named Sidra.

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
Atrice had decided to go alone. Because Tom had an overzealous accessory that wanted to slaughter every demon and lets be honest, Corben probably wasn't awake. She'd gotten down to the address, her attire a rather professional looking black dress given she had to be at the funeral home later. She looks up to the building and there is a bit of an amused look over things. "This can't be right." she murmurs to herself.

She enters through the doors, taking a moment to assess what is going on inside...and whether she's about to be told to get out.

She does recognize Sidra. She doesn't freak out though. She starts to head down the stairs to the main floor and waits off to the side with her coat tucked neatly over her arm. She was sure Larry would make an appearance!

Lucifer has posed:
Does Sidra spot her? Absolutely, but doesn't seem to react or block her in any manner. It's more of -- yes, Sidra is manning the doors, and will see every person that goes inside. If she signals anyone or does a contact, she waits until Atrice is well past her inside before she does it.

But yes: Sidra sends a quick message that Atrice is there, for what Larry to do with what he will. Inside, the auditions are going on. It looks mainly like dance, and small groups are being led through an audition routine at the stage area that consists of a lot of lifts. So there's something to watch while she waits, at least.

"Good morning, Atrice," Larry bids. He's off to the left, and looks much as she'd remember. Still just sort of unassuming. Normal height, normal colored hair. The memory may even be a little fuzzy since he's just generic, like a side NPC in a video game. And of course that's intentional.

"Let's take this to one of the private rooms - unless you fancy 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' renditions in the middle of this, as singing is next. Though I expect reasonable quality, considering this group, it WILL be loud," Larry invites.

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
Atrice gives a nod of greeting to Sidra, whether she is in a talking mood is up to her. But the weird redhead doesn't discriminate it appears. Those her gaze does go to the stage to watch as people practice and she smiles a touch.

Though Larry's voice does pull her back to the present and she gives him a smile along with a little wave, "Good morning to you as well." she states.

There is a soft chuckle, "I don't think that is the right mood for this sort of thing." she tells him. "If you want to lead the way, I'll follow." she states. "Is this your place?" she asks him as they walk.

Lucifer has posed:
There is an upper area, with a hallway that stems into smaller rooms. Each is clearly meant for 'private parties'. They do seem very clean, but it might be best to try not to imagine what may have occurred on these couches, floors or tables. Or maybe walls. But everything is sharp and new looking, the rug comfortably plush under dress shoes. But maybe keep shoes on.

"Yes!" Larry says, with a pleasure and pride of the place. "I'm not in the mood to be a tour guide, but I can throw one your way if you'd like it on the way out," Larry says, entirely cheerfully, just with a very DIRECT honesty, that is still tactfully said. Generally it's easy to just coast along on his 'vibe' of openness.

Larry opens the door to that private room for her, which gives her the benefit to pick any of the seating, from couches to the metal, modern slope-back chairs within.

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
Atrice follows after Larry, because there isn't any reason to believe that he's going to lock her in a room and not let her out. That would suck! She gives a look over things and there is a moment of thought about what goes on, then she quickly changes gears. "Oh I wouldn't want to trouble anyone with a tour. It is a very nice looking venue." she admits to that. "Thank you for offering to throw someone my way though." she grins.

She settles onto the edge of one of the couches and gives a look to him as she waits to see where he will sit.

Lucifer has posed:
"It's not trouble, they're paid employees, but I can't say the tours are /interesting/ in daylight," Larry chuckles. He takes care of his people. Larry observes her take a couch, and picks one of the others at the furthest point of the room, deepest in, sitting back but not sprawling.

"Staying shapeshifted isn't my preference, I dislike /illusion/, I'll strip this off momentarily," Larry says. There's a playfulness to the tone, as if he were suggesting he were going to get naked -- but clearly isn't, so it's just funny to say it like it's sexy, to him. It isn't a direct fliration with her, there's a sense he'd say it to anyone - it's not pointed. Though it may make her wonder what demonic thing is about to appear in the room!

Someone at the door peeks in, a waitor, silently questioning with his gaze if they want drinks delivered. "No, we're not going to force Atrice to stress about if she trusts drinks from me," Larry says to the waitor. And he uses the distraction of the person coming to have dropped his illusory appearance. When Atrice looks back to him, he'll look wildly different! Larry is actually a long-limbed and sleek 30-something male in appearance. He screams of some sort of Hollywood producer: including the amount of plastic surgery it 'feels' like he must have had. He has an intense sense of unnatural beauty, but kind of oddly off-putting, the same way really good plastic surgery might carry with it. Like MAYBE it isn't, but nobody's that without surgery, right?

"And yes, Jeorge is a demon too. Lots of the staff are," 'Larry' is chatty as Jeorge the waitor withdraws. The voice is exactly the same, mannerisms, that flippantly truthful vocal quality. He's dressed far more nicely now, and rings and expensive jewelry is present, in a tasteful measure, including a memorable dark blue gemmed ring.

'Larry' waits, then, giving her a little time if she needs it; he doesn't bombard with anything else. He seems serene, relaxed, and settles more on the couch, one leg lifted to cross ankle to the top of knee.

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
"So do a night time tour, got it." Atrice grins at that. "Or just come clubbing. That might be fun as well." she points out. She scoots back on the couch, crossing one knee over the other and then smoothes her skirt out. Her gaze grows a little confused, but there is a laugh, "It's not like a suit, is it?" she muses to that. She wasn't completely up to date on Shapeshifting!

She does look to the door and the demon there and she gives a smile and a little wave, "Wait, what?" she asks as she looks back to 'Larry'.

There's a few heartbeats as she looks him over, not in a way that is sizing him up. She's just not so used to the change. The eerie beauty.

"But you are not a demon?" she asks him with a quirk of an eyebrow.

Lucifer has posed:
"Shapeshifting isn't exclusive to demons. And isn't even common among them," Larry answers, with a sort of indifference about the topic. He doesn't mind talking about it, but it sounds like it is maybe an 'old' topic, been there, done that.

"But no. I feel like life might be easier if I were. Get in that little demon box, nice and tidy, easy to categorize." A sigh is released. "But I'd rather defy labels. Freedom's nice, too, huh?"

Larry taps his fingers on the back of the couch thoughtfully. "Sadly, I think the demons we're here to chat about want that same thing. Out of their box."

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
Atrice was making mental notes for this! "Or could just be complicated. I think complicated is a common theme these days." she states with a chuckle. "I don't see demons as easy to categorize, but that is my unprofessional opinion." she points out.

His comment about Freedom makes her look at him and there is a bit of a playful squint at him, "Are you actually Lucifer?" she asks him quietly.

"Because that would absolutely explain why the lady demon started freaking out and wanted to know where I got my sigils and said she wasn't going back to hell ever." she points out. "So I agree on that." she adds.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer rests his cheek on his hand, the side of jaw on his palm, and looks at her calmly. There's no real emotion either way, beyond maybe some gentle style of amusement. He's keeping his intensity in check. Which makes it hard to match that he COULD be Lucifer.

"What do you think?" Lucifer asks, amused by her question. It isn't a no, it isn't a yes. "By that I'm asking, do you want to know? Or even if I said yes, would you trust my word on it?" Lucifer wonders. It's an interesting topic now, but he's keeping it light.

"Regardless, there are demons that are locked to hell in general. They don't get to walk about up here disemboweling mortals as they please. They get to do that in hell, that's the deal. So when they start doing that, they know they risk punishment for it. I suppose you could say they are free to leave, but it comes with consequences. Particularly so when they drain the hell boundaries themselves to do it, because it creates even more problems."

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
Some questions shouldn't be asked and Atrice knows this. She did anyways. "Possibly." she answers him. "I think I'd like to know at some point, but there is nothing that says I can't be left in the dark and just accept that you are you." she tells him. "I've seen a lot of weird in my life. I'm not going to say you aren't him." she muses.

She listens to him a bit intently when he explains the demons and how they are only supposed to be wandering around in Hell, "So it's sort of like the Hotel California down there? I did not stay long enough to see." she admits.

"Why are they doing it? Trying to push back or is that still unknown?" she ask. "I have a feeling they are still going to be making gates. And Kib'kir is paranoid that someone is going to toss him back into Hell. Trying to tell an Imp he's fine is...mindboggling." she breathes out.

Lucifer has posed:
"Call me Luci if you like," laughs Lucifer. He does not care. There are lots of names, that's one of many. In many languages. "I think if you want to sort out what I really am, you could do it," he adds, with a supportive tone. Like a fatherly figure that really DOES believe in her, in what she is capable of. And besides, he can sense her nature, so... there is also that. But he won't talk about it. That's HER path.

"Well. They are specifically hiding what they are doing. Planned this for a long time, I think," Lucifer sighs. "I think they've found a way to cloak themselves, by siphoning off of hellgates. In theory, impossible." A pause. "So I commend their creativity, in a way." Honest, again. It's interesting.

"But I can feel that it's impacting hell's boundary in a bad way. So. The motives, you ask. We know at least one is a Gluttony demon. Don't make the mistake of thinking of gluttony as just eating a lot, though," Lucifer warns. "It isn't gluttony to enjoy the things you have earned. It is gluttony when that enjoyment causes harm to yourself or others. And that's where they are -- that their pleasures her are harmful to others. They are here to try new pleasures, as novelty is big for them, too."

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
Atrice gives a smile at that, "Luci, I will do that then." she can't help but feel a bit amused over that. And it is quite clear that she is not used to anyone believing in her. It causes her to look away for a moment, looking at the door and then back to him. "You're very easy to like." she tells him with a smile. Maybe that was just here though.

She listens to him with a bit of a curious face. "I mean, when you're locked in a place for awhile you tend to get up to mischief." she nods to that. Like children...or inmates.

She pulls out a notepad from her jacket pocket and starts to jot down information, "So we can expect that some of them are going to be aligned to the major sins?" she asks. "Do we have a list or map of hellgates in New York or other places? If not I feel like I might have to become an otherworldly cartographer for a new hobby." she chuckles. "Is there any...warning where they might hit or are they rather random?" she asks.

Lucifer has posed:
"My original guess is that this was purely Gluttony oriented sin demons," Lucifer says, to clarify, with a lift of a few fingers. "But it's not impossible there could be another motive here. We saw those houses covered in objects, which would fit this demon. But if they're making deals for it... Greed isn't off the table."

Lucifer's putting his heels up on the table as he mentions this, as if illustrating part of his point in an amused way.

"Well, I HOPE there isn't a map. If you find one, give it to me, and I'll close them up," Lucifer says. "I feel like the maid. I just /cleaned/ this," he huffs with an amused and broad wink at her. He IS easy to like: calm, generous, and open in manner!

"Since they are trying to elude hell's notice, and have been successful, I'd sadly lack that. But you mentioned an imp -- they're linked to these demons deeply. Their minions. Possible to use them to know when the events are building, I'd guess. They'll get hungry, they'll feel the emotions related to their 'parent'."

"You mentioned Kib'kir is afraid. Seems like it is earning it's place to stay here, if it can aid hell. Much like other demons: they get to stay if they are positive agents for Hell."

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
"We've been trying to make sure that no one picks up or keeps anything that is at the scenes. I'd hate to have to try to exorcise someone. Not my strong suit, but after all of this I might have to get some practice in." Atrice states as she looks to him. "Oh, okay, so no cartography, got it." she states as she crosses out THAT idea.

"So we basically have to keep our ear to the ground or find a way of early detection. Both sound like they might be possible given the skill set of folks." she nods to this as she notes things.

"Kibby keeps eating Corben's toaster. Not sure if it is in protest or amusement." she states. "I'll remind him that he needs to be on his best behaviors and to help." she nods to that. "And possibly let Corben know that he needs to speak with you about it." she adds.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer has relaxed his neck back a little, though he still commands the couch like a comfy, posh throne. He just has a sort of loosened 'cool uncle' vibe running through it. He seems to be quite chill about all of the things they're talking about. Which may be good, if he is Lucifer, as his anger is probably not fun.

"Mmmm. I can give you something for the exorcisms. That /has/ come up a bit. I'll think about the best tool for you," Lucifer says, a little dismissively, but he'll remember.

"I also suspect that I felt them pulling-- they cause weaknesses in the boundary, as I mentioned. I'll text if I sense it again, from Hell-side," Lucifer says. This is more clearly a STATEMENT, that if he says he will do it, it will happen.

"Toaster," Lucifer repeats, and laughs slowly. "Those demons are storage containers for their master. I suspect it sees him as it's master. Funny." Lucifer grins a little, then. "Talk to me? Nah. I don't really care. They aren't dangerous alone. It won't possess or kill anyone. If you want it to track, feed it a lot of things. It'll probably go 'home'." Lucifer seems to just be thinking of this idea now. He snaps his fingers. "We should do that. Let's do that. When I feel the next lull... we'll try it."

Atrice Duckstein has posed:
Atrice looks to him as he lounges and there is a bit of relaxing on her part. Mainly because she was nervous on the way over, but she feels comfortable now. Having talked a bit more. She doesn't question him on the exorcism things. He'd do it or he wouldn't. "I'll reprogram you in my phone as Luci and not Larry. But I'm not going to mention it to the others." she states.

"That is a very good plan. Next time they tug on things text and I'll assemble the...ummm...the Exorcisers? What's a good moniker for demonic stopping avengers?" she chuckles at the questions.

"I think that Corben is rather attached to him, which I don't blame him. If I had a round imp that resembled a draconic basketball I might be happier in life." she muses. She notes down the things to tell Corben and then slowly rises, "I sadly have a funeral service to perform, so I need to get going." she tells him with a bit of a reluctant look. "Thank you, for talking to me and helping. I'm hoping we can get ahead of these demons." she tells him honestly.