4855/Return to Hogwarts

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Return to Hogwarts
Date of Scene: 24 January 2021
Location: Nessa's Apartment, NYC
Synopsis: Lucifer visits Nessa after returning from LA.
Cast of Characters: Lucifer, Nessa Donovan




Lucifer has posed:
< Hogwarts! > The text begins, < I've finished up in LA, and have just landed in New York. How does dinner strike you? >

The greeting that he's in town may be a surprise -- but that he was away isn't. Lucifer had headed out to Los Angeles to check on business at an associated nightclub; evidently Lux has a sister club out there, or at the very least, does now! -- and he'd been out there for over two weeks.

< Name the food, I'll come to you. >

Nessa Donovan has posed:
While it's a bit of a surprise to suddenly hear from him, Nessa's spent a lot of time keeping busy. Work was what occupied her for most of it, so the suggestion of him bringing food is a welcome one. Not having to cook or even go pick something up is an exciting prospect. It doesn't take her terribly long to reply--seems she was close to her phone.

< Maybe something Italian? Chicken parm? Glad to hear LA didn't swallow you whole. Was starting to think it did. >

Lucifer has posed:
< Something Italian? Not even a challenge! Though I appreciate that you chose to make it easy on me, and didn't want glazed hellbeast ribs. > Is he kidding? Lucifer does make jokes quite often, and this seems a likely story with this particular aim! No doubt he's chatty on his phone if he's bored during a plane landing...

< I'll aim for 8 pm, if you think you won't starve, > Lucifer adds, though, in rapidfire return. He's quick at typing.

And, as it turns out, in a punctual mood. He'll knock, and when allowed in, will sweep inside with his usual pleasant, large smile, and warm, slightly explosive ambiance. Some time away from him and his aura can make the reintroduction a little bit like getting off a plane into a tropical climate. You know it will be warm, but the impact of it can be a system shock. "Glad to see you aren't transmogrified into anything awful," teases the devil, moving to offer a one-armed hug while the other has bags of takeout hanging from it.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
< Hellbeast ribs sound like they'd be messy, but I bet if anyone knew where to find them you would. >

When he arrives, Nessa opens the door to let him in and leans in for the one-armed hug, moving her hands to offer to take the takeout bags from him. "Admit it, the bunny was cute even if a little terrifyingly small for my liking," she replies, offering him a smile in response. "But I've been trying to keep myself from pissing off anyone particularly powerful lately. Seems to keep me alive. Good flight?"

Lucifer has posed:
"Yes, with a vast amount of liquor; I found it pleasant," Lucifer laughs, letting her take all of the bags without any argument at all. She wants them, and to search through it or parcel it out, she is welcome to take on the hostess duty.

Lucifer is dressed for a flight - in terms of HIS style, which includes sleek slacks, a royal maroon dress shirt, and tailored black jacket. For having been on such a thing, he seems chipper and pleasant, there's no edge of tiredness to the man.

"Have you pissed off anyone that is less powerful?" wonders Lucifer teasingly. "Also ... new haircut? I like it." He extends a hand to attempt to fluff a bit of the side of her hair; a reminder about his temperature fearlessness, maybe: and deliberate, by the clear focus in his gaze.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
There's the slightest hint of color on her cheeks from the touch--the lack of fear or concern, the natural way he just reacts. Nessa smiles warmly, shaking her head a bit. "I don't think I've pissed off anyone lately, so clearly I'm doing something wrong." There's amusement in her tone before she moves to set about plating up the food and retrieving utensils.

"I don't think I know anyone who wears a suit on a flight. Other than you, that is. I'm used to seeing people in sweats or yoga pants and neck pillows. You're always so... impeccably put together."

Lucifer has posed:
"Well, just don't falsely assume that I'm /clean/. Cleanliness is, supposedly, next to godliness -- a place I am definitely NOT, all appearances aside," Lucifer chatters playfully. "I /should/ have had a shower, I suspect, even if I lack a change of clothes. That's often a sport I prefer to play cooperatively with a partner, when the opportunity presents." Lucifer pats his chin once with a finger, and gives her a smile that suggests he's ... really just a devilish man.

"Less due to being /dirty/, but from being irresistable out of natural scent." He's teasing. Probably. He's just enjoying himself, in a relaxed way. "But let's start with food. Do I pass inspection on your Italian request?"

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"Well, you're also much more concerned with appearances than I'd say the average person on a flight. I never said you were clean, just well put together," Nessa notes with amusement. "I'm surprised you made it to my apartment without people throwing themselves at you."

Her attention moves back to the food as she plates it up, then glances over towards him again. "You brought me food, that already passes inspection. But yes... I think you've done quite well. I feel like if I ask you where you got it you'll mention something about some guy owing you a favor at some top-tier place that always remembers your favorite foods..." She smirks.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer doesn't come into the kitchen; he first removes his jacket, to get it hung up, and then crosses to seat himself at the table instead, with a stretch of long legs, draping himself there with one arm restin at ease on the table. "Always glad to achieve the low bar of 'passing inspection,'" Lucifer replies with a cluck of tongue. High goals are set.

"/Dear/ me, it's like you know me. That might start to be a worrisome trait, Hogwarts," Lucifer says, strumming his fingers on the top of the table, and giving her a cheeky side-eye. "Or perhaps that's my fault, being too -familiar-."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"I don't know if /know/ you is quite correct. You're always a mystery, there's just a few predictible traits you have. Like knowing everyone and being familiar with them," Nessa points out. "But you keep me guessing. I don't always know what's going through that head of yours."

Once the food's carefully plated, she brings them over to the table. She slides one over to Lucifer, then offers him a fork. "I'll leave the word 'familiar' to your own definition."

Lucifer has posed:
"Ah! Speaking of 'familiar'. In an entirely other use of the word," Lucifer says, accepting the fork but promptly putting it next to the plate, and standing up again. He crosses to his jacket, going into one of the inner pockets, and withdraws a plastic bag.

"I come bearing other gifts. A few ritual components, from Los Angeles. One of which being ... ground up familiar feathers, actually, but the creature was /quite/ entrenched in evil as was his warlock." He sets the item on the table to one side, as if it were appropriate to bring weird spell components to the dinner table. There's several small packages inside the plastic bag: presumably different things.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa laughs, taking a moment to look towards the bag. "You know a way to win a mage's heart, Luci," she quips, moving to take a bite from her plate and chewing it before interrogating him about the components. "I appreciate it. I've noticed some things are harder to come by in New York in general, so be careful or I'll start sending you a magical grocery list every time you travel somewhere."

She looks across the table at him. "Thank you. I'm sure ground up feathers wouldn't mean nearly as much to other people. You've got good taste."

Lucifer has posed:
"Oh, I don't do /lists/," Lucifer says, with a mix of disgust and horror. "Ugh. No. Free things come along when the mood suits me; don't abuse the priveledge or make it a /job/ by giving me a list." There's some teasing quality there, but like many other times, it's fringed in truth. "Lists are things I delegate to others, you see."

Lucifer begins to eat his own meal, while resuming his recline. "When you look at which spells they tend to be used in, I'm sure you'll be even more excited." He gives her a lift of brow, intense stare, with that vague, sometimes insufferable smile.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"Of course," Nessa says, though she looks amused still. "You have people to do your shopping. I would wager even your magic component shopping." She does, however, lean forward just a touch at his mention of spells. She raises a brow at him in response, forgetting about her fork for a moment to tilt her head to the side and look over at him.

"Okay, I'll bite. What sort of spells are they typically used in?" As per usual, she can't resist it when he dangles some kind of clue or mystery in front of her.

Lucifer has posed:
"Aw, it's no fun to just answer it directly like that," Lucifer says, with a wrinkle of his nose at her, and a sigh of mixed dismay. "What have you always wanted to work on? I mean, aside from a potent love spell that would catch my interest forevermore," Lucifer rolls his eyes. "Of which, for reference, such a thing does not exist. Which is best for everyone. ... Mostly me." He purses his lips just a little, and works on the meal, twirling fork with dexterity.

"But no, most rituals with that would have nothing to do with /me/. That's your first hint."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa rolls her eyes. "Of course you wouldn't just out and share it directly, that's another familiar thing about you," she says, though her tone is more of amusement than annoyance. "Besides, I'm pretty sure catching your attention forevermore is likely an impossible task, much less impossible magic." She glances at the meal, then at the bag of components.

"Well, I would guess some kind of ritual that has something to do with keeping me from turning people into ice cubes accidently?"

Lucifer has posed:
"Mmmm, indirectly, but you're on the right track with magical wards. This would be more of a general all-purpose defensive suite, but could apply that way, if you were to focus into one particular defensive school. Sure." Lucifer tilts his head, reconsidering this more strict line on what he'd been leading towards, but then flashes her an immediate smile. That perkiness is certainly still there. But he softens it, for the next question.

"Have the ice cubes been happening much lately?" Lucifer asks, more kindly, with a perceptive empathy. "Floated back to the surface, or still on an upswing of control?"

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"It's been mostly okay," Nessa replies, though she pauses for a moment to look at her food. "It doesn't help when people I can hurt touch me by surprise, though. I've tried so hard to avoid that over the years and now it's..." She rubs the back of her neck for a moment. "Eh, either way I've been able to control it for the most part. I'm keeping it in check. It definitely still feels like a self-defense mechanism."

She glances down at her hands. Ungloved, as there's little need for that in her apartment. "I have to keep from being lax in it, though. Probably need to practice more."

Lucifer has posed:
"/I/ think," Lucifer says thoughtfully, "That even were I not immune to it, I don't think I would ever have been in any particular danger. I think you've improved alongside also improving your other skills. But seeing just how much is hard to quantify."

Lucifer smiles at her, then leans over to place a hand, palm up, fingers slightly curled. "But I find your self-awareness and distinct hope to /improve/ very charming."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
The offered hand is responded with by Nessa placing her own atop his, offering a small smile. "It's nice to know I still have my charms, I have to keep myself interesting /somehow/." After a moment, she nods. "I don't know why, but you're..." She seems to be searching for words for a second. "Easy to talk to. It's natural around you. Relaxing. Leaves me feeling strong and confident. Just have to figure out how to carry that over to the rest of the world."

Lucifer has posed:
"I very much enjoy enouraging others to be... more /them/. To worry less. Follow good instincts... and to feel free to choose. I think you're making good on your choices, Hogwarts." Lucifer curls his fingers around her hand, a sort of playful motion, before lifting and leading her hand across to let him kiss the back... ... and then flippantly turn it and give her a mock 'gasp'.... and play-bite just a bit.

"Except maybe about me. But we'll see. One dinner at a time."