13527/Within the Devil's Den

Within the Devil's Den
Date of Scene:	20 June 2021
Location:	Lucifer's Penthouse, Melville
Synopsis:	Dracula really needs to stop being summoned just because Lucifer is moody/broody.
Cast of Characters:	Lucifer, Dracula

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Lucifer has posed:
A thunderstorm rages outside. Lightning splitting the skies nearly in twain and followed by deep rumbles of thunder. It's one of those nights where no one really seems to wander too far into public. Rather prefering to stay at home. Club Lux has, once again, remained silent for a night instead of opening. It's owner being in somewhat of a mood - which is also partly why there is a storm outside crashing about the world around him. It's not that he controls the weather, but if you nudge Nature a little, she'll sometimes supply what is being requested. Mood matching weather.

It fits.

Lucifer stands in front of one of his floor to ceiling windows, watching the storm, enjoying each droplet of rain that splatters against the glass. A glass of whiskey in one hand, he sips from it before taking a very particular coin out of his pocket. This time, it's not fickled with or an after thought. There is a very hard concentration on that coin, to call forth the one who gifted it, to be graced with their presence once again. The Devil is wanting - and he hopes his Vampire is able to comply.

Dracula has posed:
Sometimes, it is not Nature which complies with the nudging, though the end result is the same. A storm. For this night, it has been more than one thing which has led to the storm -- Lucifer's nudge towards Nature, and Dracula's own abilities to impact the weather. He'd called a storm of his own, and the two forces of nature collide to most dramatic effect. Dark thunderheads roll and ram into one another, causing peals of thunder to echo and reverberate across the sky. Rain pummels down in sheets, soaking everything in its path. Lightning creates wicked white forks of energy across the black sky, offering split-second illumination and then a deeper darkness in the wake of them.

In the heart of one storm, Vlad had been stalking a morsel of prey to sate the hunger that burns within him. It always craves, it always wants. And the foul prey had turned out to have other ideas. The woman had been bait. The trap had been sprung upon him once he'd entered the alleyway by far enough to be in the dark, not that darkness bothered him at all. The sheep knew not what he was besides being what they thought an easy mark to rob. By the time all was said and done, three men lay exsanguiated and drained by the elder vampire, the shadows of the alley were nigh impenetrable with regular sight and other magics hung thick in the air.

And then, there was the pull from the coin.

The next flash of lightning nigh made his long white hair glow, and his eyes burned crimson. Drenched to the skin, wearing some of his own blood and more that belonged to the dozen dead men within the alley, he sharply pulled on his power to teleport away from where he stood now.

And he reappeared immediately behind Lucifer. He was in his telltale black, though the peacoat was nowhere in evidence and instead there was a long and full cloak. Black, lined with blood red. And as he appeared, the cloak swirled forward from around each side of Lucifer (unless he stops it or moves to prevent it from doing so), to wrap around him.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer remains unaware of what Vlad does in these late hours, when he's hunting for a meal. Course, he was also unaware that the man was conjuring up a storm as well, and that is why the raging storm seems as violent as it is. Never the less, as Vlad answers the call of the coin and appears behind Lucifer, there's no motion to stop or prevent that cloak from wrapping around him. He almost basks in the comfort of it, the solitude - even if that comes with one person in his presence - he's fine with that.

A subtle shift is given, and Lucifer turns to look upon Vlad properly. Hands shift to cup the Vampire Lord's cheeks, a thumb brushing over lips. Bright blue eyes meet the other crimson gaze and holds it for a lingering moment. Fingertips curl just so against the cheeks they cup as Lucifer seems to go tense all around. He opens his mouth as if to say something, having convinced himself that he could and should say what is on his mind. Though his mouth closes a bit, it just as easily and finally comes out in an almost rush of phrase, "I love you."

Dracula has posed:
It isn't every night that hunting happens, and it's rarer yet when he actually takes a life. Tonight... well, tonight was an unusual circumstance, and he hadn't been expecting it to happen. Water mingles with blood, and it dribbles down to the floor around where he stands, the droplets slipping from the edge of his cloak that nigh trails the ground when it's at rest.

As Lucifer turns to face him, the cloak snugs around him a touch closer and the crimson glow in Vlad's eyes becomes brighter. He shifts slightly, leaning a little into the touch of Lucifer's hands upon his cheeks, and he slips his arms around the archangel in order to hold him closer. It's rare moments that he allows himself to relax, and here with Lucifer happens to be one of those times.

Moving just a touch, he leans in closer to Lucifer, and he brings his forehead to rest against the Devil's own. His crimson eyes meet Lucifer's blue ones, searching the depths of them. "You should not... you deserve far better than I, I who has a soul that is darker than the darkest night," he whispers softly, one of his hands rising gently along Lucifer's back to come to rest at the nape of his neck. Tonight, he feels the weight of that darkness more. He killed people, sent their souls to heaven or to hell, he doesn't know. Tenderly, briefly, he claims Lucifer's lips in a kiss, if he's allowed. "Love is a curse, a gift... and whatever it will bring to us, gift or curse, I am caught up in it with you, Lucifer," he whispers. So much more than just three words, and yet... he cannot deny what emotions are stirred when he's within the archangel's company.

Lucifer has posed:
There had been a point that Lucifer was desperate to make regardless of anything else, because if he didn't make it then, he would likely let it retreat back into the shell and walls he's built up for himself. He's had many an era to do such a thing, and yet in a small space of time not only has one person shattered a wall or few, but along came another and crumbled they go. He can maintain them around others, others are fine, aren't close. For Vlad, it is impossible. The Vampire Lord has claimed the heart of the Devil - for whatever that is worth.

When Vlad gives his reply, Lucifer almost laughs it off, but instead he simply nuzzles and noses. Returns the kiss when it is offered, and then hears Vlad's admission. Not in three words, but they are the same as what the Devil uttered. Perhaps even more brilliantly put. "I believe it might bring us a little of both...but I also cannot deny what this is. I wanted to...because I...I wasn't sure how you would take it. How it would be perceived. For the Devil to love..." Some do not believe it is even possible, but if this isn't love, he's not sure he wants to know what else it could be either.

He sniffs, and among the wet there is also that tinge of iron, that feel of copper one can almost taste even by just smelling it. He looks, and then he worries. "You...are bleeding? What has happened? Who did this?"

Dracula has posed:
Ah, but Lucifer is not the only one to be possessed of walls that have been built up across the span of years in order to prevent a hundred and one hurts from reaching the core of himself. Vlad has them as well. And somehow, Lucifer managed to navigate his way through them, to find or to create a path. It had been... unexpected. And a part of him had welcomed it to be done. Decades or more spent alone to walk the night's darkness, to survive in his own diabolical fashion.

There is a hint of a smile that finds the lips of the elder vampire, and he gives a small nod. "I believe that you might be right. Fair and foul weather will likely both come," he says, his voice rich and dark. And on the heels of his words comes a roll of thunder to peal and ripple across the sky. "I cannot deny what has come to exist either, and would be poor equipped to try. Being the Devil does not make you incapable of love. Beneath the power that we have, beneath what we each are, we are living creatures. To want and to seek out love is as natural as to survive from one day unto the next," Vlad says softly, a small smile finding the corners of his lips. It is as possible for the Devil to love as it is for his own twisted heart and soul to do so. And so, Vlad believes.

Gently, Vlad strokes his fingers along the back of Lucifer's neck, a attempt to soothe the worry away even as it is yet rising. He tilts his head faintly to one side, spending a moment in concentrating in order to check himself out, and he gives a small shake of his head. "I bled, but I do not bleed any longer. You smell what was shed... of me, and of the others. Their lives were forfeit and they lay dead," Vlad says softly.

Lucifer has posed:
Working backwards, as Lucifer sometimes does, those fingers against the back of his neck to actually get him to settle and soothes away his worry. Of course, if it had been anything substantial, he knows he would have been called to Vlad's side, so at least that did not happen. "Well... at least they no longer roam this world. If they needed to be ripped from this mortal coil." He offers this much before nosing into Vlad's neck briefly.

"I do believe I am capable of love...in a few ways. You and I are very interesting creatures. If love is a path available to us, then I would gladly walk that path with you." He says this as he drops hands to Vlad's shoulders and then offers the man a tender kiss. Then another, and this second kiss he tries to hold while pressing all of himself that he can against the man in front of him. Slowly those arms envelop Vlad as much as they likely can as he revels in the embrace of cloak while embracing the Vampire Lord back. Though a glean of thoughts will show Dracula that Lucifer is a mess of emotions and thoughts.

Dracula has posed:
"Had I been in grave danger, you would have known it. This, I promise to you. Until it comes to pass, you will simply need to have trust in me that you will know," Vlad says, his fingers lightly pressing against the back of Lucifer's neck. "There was no silver used, nor any stakes involved in any of the injuries that I took. The wounds have healed themselves. I regenerate fairly quickly, most times," he adds, a small smile finding the corners of his lips. Of course, he generally has little care over whether or not he gets hurt since internal organs and blood loss don't exactly have the same meaning to him as they do to a human. "I am certain that their souls lie in your domain, for you to do with as you see fit," he comments, sounding just a touch pleased at that.

"I believe that you are, and I believe that I am," Vlad says softly, bringing his forehead to rest against Lucifer's once again. His crimson eyes fall closed as he leans in to meet the kisses that are offered to his lips, the touch of his lips cool and rain damp. He's yet soaked from the storm, having chosen not to exert any of his power to make himself dry. He keeps not just the cloak but also his arms wrapped about Lucifer, and he lightly runs one of his hands over the Devil's back. Gently, he lifts one of his hands to softly brush his fingers over one of Lucifer's cheeks. "Your thoughts are as tangled as a skein of yarn that a rambunctious kitten has been playing through for hours. What has them so tussled about?" he asks, a gentle but dark tone beneath the question.

Lucifer has posed:
"So long as you are fine, then all is well. And... well... there is someone sitting upon the throne right now. So there will be fun had even now, with their souls." Lucifer offers then before feeling himself wrapped in arms that are damp from wet. He doesn't even mind this, for they are the arms of a lover whom he enjoys the presence of. As kisses are shared, and then broken, cheeks brushed and minds gleaned, he listens to that last bit Dracula offers. A cheeky smile forms and then he takes a slow breath.

"Just trying to work out...all of this. You and I have a way. You call me. I call you. We visit, we share thoughts, make love, and then you leave. Or I depart...." He pauses. "My other love is much more chaotic. It's been a bit of a whirlwind these last couple of days. DAYS, mind you.." Lucifer finally shifts to pull from Dracula, shaking his head some. "I'll work my thoughts out. They must be worked out with him though. It's just a recent thing that I'm still...unraveling. Aside that. I wanted to tell you...what I told you...so that's done." Fickle emotions and their stickiness. He could hate them if they didn't feel so fucking good.

Dracula has posed:
"I am well, truly," Vlad says, giving a small nod. Then a soft chuckle rises up from him. "You can check out every inch of me later, if you prefer to see for yourself," he offers in a quieter tone, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. It amuses him, that suggestion does. He lightly nudges his nose against Lucifer's jaw, then gives a playful nip there.

"Mmm... aye, you and I have a way about us. It is a way that has worked, thus far. It could be more chaotic, with less warning and simply showing up to visit by surprise," he muses, his tone thoughtful. "I do not mind that your other love has claimed the past few day of you. I am not upset by it, and it hath not stirred my temper. I do not possess you, and I will not seek to tell you who you can or cannot be with. It is not my place," he says softly, giving a small nod. Softly, he brushes his fingers along Lucifer's cheek, then drags his knuckles along the Devil's jaw. "Things will settle, and I'll not tug the threads of your thoughts or unravel them on you," he promises, giving a faint nod to Lucifer. He's quiet for a lingering moment then, his crimson gaze meeting Lucifer's blue one. "May I feed on you?" Vlad asks, a gentle note to his voice. He generally doesn't ask, and tends to just take what he needs.

Lucifer has posed:
"Mmn...I will surely look over every inch of you later, of this I have no doubt." Lucifer offers while seeing that smile and his own appears on his lips. At that light nudge, he shifts his head a bit back and aside to expose more of his skin to the vampire. Though he also listens to the further words offered. "I am glad it does not stir you. I would not wish to do such. You are both dear to me in many ways, I have come to find. There is simply a lot to decompress when you are me, and for eons and eras have been...alone...at the core. Taking pleasures as one desires, but never anything more. To have a deeper connection is new, but it was indeed a wanted and desired thing from you both." This and then he finds his blue gaze taken by Vlad's crimson own and at that question he nods his head. "Yes...please...among a few other things I might wish of you to do this night..." Words whispered then as a moment is offered.