4058/A Night Out

A Night Out
Date of Scene:	07 November 2020
Location:	Lux
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Nessa Donovan, Katsumi Oshiro, Lucifer

---

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Given the fact that Nessa's significantly less fuzzy and left Kat sort of hanging as to the whole bunny situation, she'd made it a point of offering her friend a night out--dancing, drinks, and fun. Dressed in the very dress that Kat had helped her pick out with the combination of elbow-length gloves and her hair braided to one side of her head, she certainly looks like she's actually supposed to be at Lux.

Standing just outside, glancing occasionally at her phone, she waits for Kat near one of the bouncers, chatting idly with him as she gazes nearby to see if she can spot the Japanese woman at all.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro panicked. First, she was thrilled to hear that Nessa was alright and considerably less lapine. Then, she had no idea what to wear. Is it formal? Is it relaxed? How does one dress to attend something that rhymes with tux!? Fancy, right!? It damn well better be fancy!

Katsumi arrives wearing a dark red dress featuring a high slit up the right leg. Gold bracelets hang from her left wrist, her typical black choker loops her throat, and a pair of combat boots shod her feet. Take that, society.

The Japanese girl exits a cab; not with a 'thank you' or a 'keep the change', but rather with a, 'f***ing Hell,' upon seeing the venue. After staring for a couple seconds, her gaze - now /vividly/ magenta, save for a few wispy traces of dying green - settles on Nessa.

There's an enormous smile.

An excited squeal.

She scampers up to the other woman and grabs for her shoulders. "You're okay! Look at you! You look like a people! Oh my god, I was so worried! I didn't know what to do! You're okay, right!?"

Nessa Donovan has posed:
There's always a level of cautiousness with Nessa when out in anywhere public, but there's a tiny bit of ease in tension when it's clear Kat's made it there okay and doesn't seem to hate her for the awkward bunny incident. "See, told you I'd be fine. Sera made sure I was safe, Luci came and helped me with things... so yes, real person. Real person /in a dress/."

She gestures towards Lux. "Pretty cool, right? Just wait until you see the inside." She looks back towards the bouncer who she'd been chatting to, who moves to let the two of them enter. "Hope this at least makes up for scaring the crap out of you. I feel really bad about all that..."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro may have accidentally grazed her with her grab for the shoulders. But if she had, her hands immediately retracted as if touching an oven eye. "Ah! B****!," balks Katsumi as she leans back to look at Nessa more fully. Somehow the insult carries the tune of a compliment. "You're totally wearing it! I told you you'd look hot!"

The svelte female takes a deep breath, and exhales it again, breezing away the tension she'd been carrying. "You had me really worried," she notes; there should be no mistaking the earnestness in her voice, nor in the tilt of her gaze. "I don't really find a lott'a people who can put up with me. You're... you know, rare, or whatever..."

As the bouncer steps aside, he briefly takes her focus. "Oh s***! I loved you in Shrek!" Bright, innocent smile. And then she's hurriedly scurrying inside past him with impish glee.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
It's certainly good that Nessa's at least aware of any potential skin contact, so the slight brush doesn't have any adverse effects, nor does she seem too freaked out about it. It's very different if the contact is entirely unexpected. "Yeah, you were right about the dress. It does work. It really does. It's kind of empowering, honestly. Taking control of the situation. Plus, you know, compliments always help."

She glances back in Kat's direction as she makes her way in. "I know, I'm sorry, I didn't really mean to scare the crap out of you like that, but it did help that I got to see you for a bit. Being a bunny was... well, made me appreciate what I've got." The blonde offers her a bit of a grin. "Plus now I have a great excuse to make it up to you, right? And Lux is pretty spectacular."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro moves ahead of Nessa upon entering, directly to the guardrail of the upper platform to look down over the club proper. "Ohhh, crap...," she murmurs. This is gonna be expensive. Her stipend from the federation isn't doing much to cover the accomodations she's been put, and simply put, they aren't cheap. On top of that, the fairly pricy gifts she'd given before...

She can't make that Nessa's problem. She can't lose face to her one friend. She swallows hard, steels her resolve, and turns around to Nessage with a confident, if fake, smile. With her left eye a-wink, she raises her left index finger in a poise both youthful and decidedly Japanese. "You already freaked me out once. It'll take more than that to run me off!"

The pose is dropped, and she leans back against the rail. "And this place - you said that dude you have a thing for works here?"

Lucifer has posed:
Said dude of which a thing may or may not exist appears out of what might //feel// like nowhere-- but really isn't. There's a crush of patrons nearby that masked his location at least at first, but then he's right upon them, with a pleased surprise, dark brows lifted high.

And of course, a little bit of overhearing, because Lucifer is often obnoxiously aware. "Only as spectacular as those who attend - which appears to be /quite/ a high bar tonight," Lucifer declares, his grin extravagant and intense as always. "Hogwarts and a plus one: welcome," the devilishly immaculately dressed one offers, approaching to attempt to give Nessa a familiar sideways hug into his side, and then a flippant little cheeky smile sent to Katsumi.

Lucifer is dressed in a dark burgundy today, a suit with a flare of black high and open collar. His 'presence' is something unnatural, yet comfortable, coaxing, that begs relaxation and perhaps a general ...ease. It's hard to be uptight around Lucifer, and even those who are relaxed tend to become moreso.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"Well, like I said, I feel bad and want to make it up to you," Nessa explains. "So don't worry about it. This night is me making you feel less stressed about the world for a bit, since you already made mine a lot easier. So... drinks are on me, 'kay? Just don't go too nuts. I don't know how you party."

She hardly has time to scrunch up her face at the phrasing of Kat's question before there's Lucifer. "Speak of the devil," she comments with a slightly amused look. Is that a flush of color on her cheeks? Likely the embarrassment for being caught off-guard by the sudden appearance. The hug is returned with a bit of a laugh.

"Kat, this is Lucifer. He owns Lux and I must warn you he's ridiculously charming. Luci, this is Kat... probably one of my best friends at this point. I kind of owe her for scaring her, so I thought I'd show her Lux."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
A quiet sound escapes Katsumi at the sudden appearance of Reginald Charming, Esq., taken mildly off-guard and rapidly processing what she's seeing. He's clearly familiar with Nessa. She's clearly comfortable with him. And what she says confirms tha-

One of her best friends?

She tries to not look too heartmelted at that. She even has to catch herself; her and her warm smile, the slight uplidding of her gaze. That meant a lot. No one's ever spoken of her that way. But when she realizes she's smiling, she clears her throat and quickly shoots her gaze to her feet. Aloof demeanor recovered, she raises her gaze to the male interloper. "Lucifer! That's right, Nessa mentioned you. I think i said your parents must've hated the /Hell/ out of you or something," she posits offhandedly. "Or they had a wicked sense of irony."

At last, she leans off the railing to very, very obviously give him an appraising once-over, from head to toe, and back up again. Her inhumanly-hued gaze flicks repeatedly between him and Nessa, a non-vocal and possibly unclear communication. But in her mind? She totally gets it. She's urging herself to behave. And indeed, how she's been insofar is her idea of doing just that.

"I'm not calling you Luci. That's a girl's name."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer tut-tuts once with his tongue, giving Nessa a chiding look. "Ridiculous? I daresay I do hope by now you find much of what I do of the utmost seriousness, and hardly ridiculous," Lucifer teases her evenly in mock insult, and plucks a finger at Nessa's bare shoudler. He's well aware of her concerns about touching others, and did do it where she'd see him coming. Though that is likely more out of a respect for her than fear of being frozen.

"Indeed, speak his name and lo, he appears? Though not often, don't take it as a usual thing --- though I hope you know I am making an effort, as evidenced by my proactive anti-bunny efforts as of late," Lucifer chuckles, attention winged directly and entirely onto Kat and her daring red dress.

Lucifer definitely takes it in, with a shameless direct gaze. A flare of his eyes and a warmly offered handshake follow. "Kat. A newbie to Lux? You've picked an excellent night, though I will not be available much of the night - I have a performance shortly. Still, I doubt Lux will disappoint. I am quite willing to be 'Lucifer' to you instead of Luci." A flick of roguish smile flutters in. "There's a variety of names I'd pose far more objection to than that one."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa's eyes dart towards the touch to her shoulder, but it's clear there's a level of trust there--she's aware of the gesture and so when it comes, it's not something she shies away from. "Right, right, I shall rephrase that to 'astonishingly charming', as I think that still rings accurate." She offers Lucifer a bit of a smile. "Your anti-bunny efforts are very appreciated, thank you. I'll try not to call you every time I piss off a god." Her attention goes back to Kat, her smile still bright.

"I'm pretty sure Luci isn't something everyone calls him anyway, I've just found people are a little less intimidated by 'my friend Luci'. Sometimes names can be distracting things." Her gaze shifts between the two. "You're going to perform? Well, that's a bonus either way."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
There's a lot to unpack here. The mention of anti-bunny efforts gets the faintest of winces in Katsumi, mostly noticeable in the eyes. But moreso when she mentions angering a deity. There's no limit to how uncomfortable that very concept makes her. So when Nessa presents her with that bright smile, she's met with one that's a little on the strained side as Katsumi attempts to convince herself that any part of this is normal and not insane.

And then the guy named Lucifer is offering her his hand. She's pretty sure there are parables written somewhere about the foolishness of taking it, but she does - feminine hand slips into his palm, if a little haltingly. It's not a native Japanese custom to take hands with strangers. That's a distinctly Western thing. But to her credit, she's much more comfortable with it than likely anyone else in her federation. The not-quite-leering-but-in-the-ballpark look she got from him either didn't register, or simply didn't phase her. In truth, it's more the latter - she's used to being noticed. Her career is built on rolling around a mat with other women in scant attire. Occupational hazard, y'know? It doesn't mean she doesn't take a level of pride in being noticed, however...

"And ironically, there've been a few people refer to me as the Devil...," she replies, voice taking a slightly lower timbre. Is that a flirty note? A quick flicker of her gaze aside to Nessa, and she quickly blinks and withdraws her hand. "A-anyway, what's the performance? You don't look dressed for a cabaret."

Lucifer has posed:
"Have you considered your friends might need to just be intimidated once in a while?" Lucifer teases Nessa in return, causally. He weighs Kat's reaction to the handshake, her body language, in his sometimes ... uncomfortably direct way. His gaze can be penetrating, when he ramps up the focus on it.

And shifts into Japanese to reply to her, when she mentions the 'Devil', saying with only a subtle British accent on it, "I could see how that compliment might happen." He taps one finger to the side of his jaw, continues on in English again. "Piano; no further spoilers, you'll have to wait and experience it."

But Lucifer turns those high-beams then back on Nessa, to cheekily ask, "Kiss for good luck?" in a light way. There's no real force behind it, not even really a coax to it. She will, or she won't, without any pressure.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
There's a look of amusement as Nessa's gaze goes back and forth between Kat and Lucifer. "Fine, next time I'll be sure to use your full clout to intimidate my friends," she replies, grinning. The Japanese flies by her--she's not particularly well-versed in multiple languages, though it doesn't stop her for looking impressed at Lucifer using it. Because of /course/ he would.

When Lucifer directs his attention to her again, Nessa laughs just slightly. "Somehow I don't think you're in need of any luck." She does, however, lean in to plant a rather fond-looking kiss on his cheek. "But good luck anyway."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Exotic, oddly-colored eyes widen at the use of Japanese. Impressed? Certainly. Off-balance? Without a doubt. Katsumi notes, also in Japanese, "<You're trouble.>"

She watches Nessa deliver that cheek-kiss in continued, silent staring. She'll be patient, however, and wait to begin the tittering and gossipping until after the individual in question has left. For once.

However, he's getting such an inquisitive stare at this point.

Lucifer has posed:
A little sigh of reflection follows Katsumi's statement of Lucifer's status as trouble. "Only in the best ways," Lucifer answers her Japanese with English, and a flirty little flare of his eyes. Still, it's in a playful tone, and Nessa earns a beam for her contribution to his luckiness.

"Perhaps not, but I certainly feel luckier with it," Lucifer says with a gallant not-quite-humility. "Time to prepare for that. Do enjoy the evening, ladies," he bids to them both, with a slight squeeze of Nessa before he's headed off into the club, nearly pounced on by some of the staff that had been holding back from bothering him while he was clearly busy. He fields their questions with a calm ease while heading down towards the other side of Lux.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa smiles broadly in Lucifer's direction as he retreats, waiting until she's certain he's occupied once more before she turns fully back to Kat. "Well, that's Luci. I warned you he was charming. And very complicated. I don't think he's anyone I'll ever fully understand, but I trust him." There's perhaps a tinge of color there, but she's clearly not dwelling on that.

"Right, so, there's a lot to Lux. Lots of dancing, there are some calmer quieter areas I tend to stick to when I feel a little too enclosed by people. The drinks are fantastic... I can recommend some of the ones I've tried that I've enjoyed." Distractions!

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Oh, you /so/ don't care about any of that sh**," gently accuses Katsumi as she glides closer to her in the wake of Lucifer's exeunt. She cuts a conspiratorial glance sidelong after him, then right back to the girl in question. "We'll do drinks'n stuff in a minute. You have to tell me everything. Where'd you meet? Did you have to draw something on the floor in blood?," she teases. She meant it as a tease, anyway. But the moment she says it, her expression flashes in sincere curiosity. All of this about magic and metaphysical weirdness, she just can't be sure about anything.

"And have you guys... you know..." She glances again with just as much conspiracy behind her eyes, before squinting meaningfully at Nessa.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa glances over her shoulder, as if making sure the man in question isn't lurking behind her. "A bookstore. I sort of got him to help with this magic thing I was looking into, found out he's got some sort of weird immunity to ice so /that/ was kind of a shocker. He's got an incredible collection of books and he knows... way more than I could research. So that was sort of how I connected with him but..."

She gestures vaguely behind him. "Just /look at all of that/. Less weird bloody incantations and more incredibly good at conversation, no bullshit, and way too good looking for his own good. It's why I was sort of hoping to find a way to make a better impression. Math class versus mysteries of the universe. Bit of a different league there."

As for 'you know', Nessa clears her throat. "Well..." She doesn't answer, but there's an /answer/ there.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Oh mai Gaahhhd~," quietly sensationalizes the Japanese girl, her balled up fists raising to almost but not quite cover her mouth. She's shocked! /Shocked/! Not really. But having a big reaction is fun, and it usually makes the other person squirm, which is also fun. "Okay. Paws off. I can do that." Katsumi's fists lower to her sides again. With a wink, she coyly adds, "But from how it sounds, he was maybe an Honor Student with math class, if you catch my cold."

She leans back to peer towards the club mainstay before tilting towards Nessa. "So what's the plan? How're you gonna wrangle'em? You have a plan, right?"

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"Plan?"

Nessa looks sort of dumbfounded. For a moment she seems genuinely at a loss for what Katsumi is actually referring to. She looks back and forth, then stares at Kat again. "You think I..." She trails off. "There's never been a plan. It's just sort of a... thing? I don't usually have this kind of opportunity and he's..." There's the vague gesture again. "He's Luci. Regardless of ice immunity, he's certainly something else."

The blonde takes a moment to scan over Lux once more. "There's no plan or wrangling. I don't expect anything. I'd just like to make an impression. He's made one on me and I'd like to find a way to return that. I certainly don't expect..." She trails off. "The ice thing has always been a barrier. So I haven't really come to expect anything. It's not as if I'm stopping you if you're interested in him, I don't blame you in the slightest."

There's a long pause. "I just don't want to be forgotten, you know?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro's mirthful pluck seems to have dimmed a little in the face of Nessa's genuine uncertainty. Her posture straightens, and her arms fold loosely over her modest bust. The more Nessa explains, the more Katsumi's pink-glossed lips twist a little tot he side in consideration.

"You are /such/ a waifu," she accuses, but with a level of warmth and affection that undermines what would otherwise be a terribly patronizing remark. "I'm hearing what you're saying." She leans in a little closer. "More than the words you're throwing at me. Understand? I'm not touchin'."

A hand lifts to scratch gently at her cheek in consideration as she watches Nessa.

"I can't imagine anyone forgetting you. But a guy like that, he's gonna need... energy. The dress? Perfect start. Shows confidence. And he knows you can be cool and icy. But does he know you've got fire?"

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"You know, I have no idea what 'waifu' means in this context, but I'm choosing to take it as a compliment," Nessa asserts, one hand resting on her hip. "I usually try not to make too much of an impact on people. Kind of feels risky to me, maybe I use the ice as an excuse... it's a valid one most of the time, but not everyone gets how careful I'm being. So I'm used to the proverbial, and literal, keeping people at arm's length. So this 'thing' with Lucifer? It's just some weird ground. I'm not planning on intruding on his lifestyle, that's his thing and his own choices and I've never been able to /offer/ the same thing other people might."

She nods a bit. "So he's got some importance, and it feels like I'd like to hold some importance too. A place, regardless of what that is, because I like that. So... good impressions. I like him knowing that I'm willing to take some risks, to be more secure in some things I might have just sunk into complacency with. He's helped, and I think showing him that impact is something he's appreciated."

There's another moment of thought. "I think there's plenty of fire there that he's seen. I'm a fighter and I'm stubborn. I certainly give him as much shit as he gives me. Equal opportunity there. I could stand to show more, though. He's /given/ me a lot of that confidence."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"It is," Katsumi confirms pleasantly. And to be fair, she means that. Nessa seems earnest, humble, and considerate, perhaps to a fault. The Japanese starlet finds that terribly endearing. "Okay, so I'm really not the person to talk to about relationship advice. I've been on one date, ever, and it was a fan sweepstake thing. But I can tell he /notices/ you, at least. He checked me out, but it's you he's more focused on. It's a foot in the door."

She paces more to Nessa's side, head tilted to look at her. "It's a question of what you wanna do with that. If it's gonna be a ding-dong-ditch, or a date. I mean, Hell, you two already, uh..." Her cheeks rouge faintly for once, and a hand quickly moves to the back of her neck. "I'm just saying, he's not left you alone afterwards! That's gotta tell you something, right? He puts off player vibes, but..." She pauses, then scrunches up her expression. "I am /so/ up in your business right now. Hit me if you need to."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"I'd kind of be suspicious if he didn't check you out," Nessa notes, sounding amused. "This dress is a good look for you. We've got to do this kind of thing more, yeah?" She offers her friend a grin. "He's a bit of a playboy but... at the same time there's a lot more than all of that. If you saw how kind to me he was after the bunny thing... well, I think he's the only person whose concern regarding this situation could have rivaled your own."

She laughs a bit. "How did I become /this/? Relationship discussions are probably about as foreign to me as they are to you. He likes me around and I'm doing okay with that, so I think that's good. He doesn't seem to mind me showing up in his club and doing magic research and stuff, either."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Doesn't mind? Or likes having you around? Also, unless he freaked the f*** out when he saw you the way I did, I win in who gave the most s***s." Katsumi pouts out her bottom lip. So there.

"What do you want out of it? Point-blank question. And I mean, like, out of this thing with him. Do you even know yet? Or do you know, and you're just... I dunno, not feeling like you deserve it, or like it's safe to say. 'Cuz you can tell me. No one listens to a word I say outt'a the ring anyway."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"That's why I said it /could/ have rivaled. Luci's kind of... weirdly comfortable with these things. Magic is something he's used to. He didn't call the police, certainly," Nessa smiles sheepishly. "So if you wanna claim victory over that, you certainly can. I'm just saying, I don't think he'd have helped just anyone the way he did with me."

The point blank question certainly has Nessa struggling to think. "I mean, I'm already getting something out of it. I like being around him, I like him being around me, I like the fact that he makes time and I've got some kind of importance. I don't even know what to expect because not only is this completely foreign to me, it's not like he's just some ordinary nice guy."

She offers a bit of a shrug. "I didn't think I'd get this far with anyone, to be honest? I always sort of hoped I'd fix all of this ice stuff eventually but I guess in the back of my mind it's always been too distant a prospect for me to think about these things too much."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Nessa. Sweetie." Katsumi links her hands before her lap, and she tilts at the waist enough to angle her head around more towards the blonde's front. "I didn't ask you to propose to'em. It's just us. I'm not gonna run and tell'em. But if you're gonna have what you want, you've gotta know what you want. And it looks like this is something you /could/ have..."

She pauses and exhales a gentle sigh.

"I'm still badgering you about this, huh?," she reflects. "Just- listen, if you decide you want this guy? For more than a one-time thing? Like you want'em to have eys for you and not your exotic, sexy gladiator friend? I can maybe help more. I got you covered on the dress, right?" The smile she follows with is less the typical predatory, arrogant, or cocky faire, and more simply supportive. She's being sincere! "And in the meantime, we can totally get a table and I'll drain your bank account one glass at a time."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa shrugs. "I guess I've just got to think about it for a while. I just kind of like it being /something/. Not sure what words to put to it, honestly." She rubs her cheeks with her gloved hands. "Ugh, I think we definitely need drinks." She's about to move to get a table before she hesitates for just a second before looking back to Katsumi.

"What do you think of him, honestly? I mean, obviously it's not like you got to ask him about his dreams and aspirations or whatnot, but... what do you think?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro takes a step to follow, then nearly trips over her own chunky boot when Nessa pivots on her again. A quiet, "Yeep!," escapes her in surprise. Rough, tough wrestler girl who makes a living beating people up; and also she squeaks when startled. Hands lift to self-consciously pat her silky hair down. "Uh, honestly? He seems like the kind of guy who gets an abundance of what he wants. To the point where he has no idea what he wants anymore, because everything around him is like a blur. He's stupidly good-looking, but you already knew that. He knows it, too. I'd say he's shallow and probably has a one-track mind, but it sounds like he's actually, y'know, invested in you. So that's gotta count for something."

"You wanna know what kind of person he is? Ask'em out. Take him off guard. See what happens."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa makes a face at the suggestion of asking him out. "I don't want to complicate it, I don't think. He's invested and I don't want him deciding to run the other way." She shakes her head a bit. "Besides, I don't think I'd catch him off guard. It takes a lot to surprise him." She pauses. "... which kind of makes me want to find a way to surprise him, now."

She proceeds to move through the crowd, checking behind her to make sure Kat's following as she finds a comfortable table to sit at. Somewhere they can be sure to people watch and catch the entertainment.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro is following along behind her dutifully, and likely a little less gracefully than Nessa. Katsumi isn't a particularly big girl, but she isn't shy about bumping her narrow shoulders into people to create gaps here and there. And if you expect her to beg pardons for it, you've not been paying attention!

"The dress counts," Katsumi purrs as they find a table. She immediately slips into a chair and glances aside towards the aforementioned entertainment, then back to Nessa. "I'll stop buggin' you about it. Promise."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"Okay, I guess the dress counts. He was certainly not expecting that, so that's a point in my direction," Nessa offers her friend a grin before flagging down a nearby waitress to order drinks. "I don't mind it so much, I'm just not used to having girl stuff to dish about. Bit of a weird experience. I'd better get the opportunity to do the same with you at some point! Equal opportunity friendship, 'kay?"