[Midnight Hotel] March catch-all

[gistful]

Characters: Anyone, everyone.
Date: Month of March, 2016 (2017 in-game).
Location: The Midnight Hotel.
Situation: Catch-all post! Feel free to use this post for anything that happens within the Midnight Hotel during the month, using the subject header to label specific rooms or for specific people. See also the OOC note at the bottom.
Warnings/Rating: Mark your threads if content warnings become applicable, please!

The influx of patrons from Hatal has slowed somewhat as the novelty wears off and residents are assured they won’t miss anything by not visiting the quaint hotel right away. Most Tavimbians have got it through their heads that the proprietor takes his rules seriously, and have come to the usual conclusion that it’s not worth the effort of breaking them in minor ways.

Some of those assumptions might be questioned, given that those who live at the Hotel will have gotten the opportunity to witness said proprietor going out on the town with some friends.

Other changes this month involve the addition of a ramp function to the stairs leading from the lobby and common-area to the second floor. Like the escalator function, the ramp is controlled by buttons at the height and base of the stairs; when pressed, the steps fall flat against the floor into a ramp, and revert to their previous state only once there is no more weight on them.

These changes are to account for Bisi’s chair, but some kedanese children get in on the fun by using the ramp-stairs as a slide – though not too much, as their parents or guardians will shoo them off whenever they start getting in the way.

[ooc: The Midnight Hotel’s status page is available here, with the rules at the top and ongoing status at the bottom. PLEASE POST TO THE STATUS PAGE IF YOUR CHARACTER WOULD LIKE A ROOM, JOB OR AREA IN THE GARAGE, OR ARE MOVING OUT. Anton will manufacture means of payment until Foreigners are able to properly offer recompense or choose to move out.]

Comments

Lucifer | New Arrival | OTA

[retiredfromhell]

A - Arrival

If ten billion years had taught him anything it was the value of patience; particularly when thrown into new or unknown circumstances. To be fair it had been a few billion years since he'd encountered anything resembling unknown circumstances, one of the drawbacks to having been around since the dawn of time.

Waking up on the Tu Vishan's back had been a genuine surprise, one of the first Lucifer had felt in a very long time. He had been quite a distance from civilization a fact that didn't bother him much, particularly as the walk had afforded him the opportunity to regain his strength (supernaturally speaking) and also assess his situation.

He was truly, for the first time in his existence, somewhere outside Yahweh's direct influence. That one, thrilling fact alone was enough to settle his initial annoyance at having been brought here without his leave. He wouldn't have normally tolerated such high handedness, but the novelty of what Tu Vishan represented, settled the Morningstar's arrogance.

As such, he was in a positively affable mood once he reached Keeliai. In no hurry, he took his time investigating the khedan, listening to the information that fell from unwary lips and generally getting a sense of his circumstances. It all also worked wonders to further peak his curiosity and help him abide by the fact that he did not have an immediate route to return back home.

Inquires eventually directed him to the Midnight Hotel a structure that gave him pause upon his approach. He could feel the magical power emanating from the structure, like a prickle of electricity along his skin. It wasn't bothersome, precisely but it did demand his attention and Lucifer paused in his approach to study the structure more closely.

Specifically, the energy signatures seeping through the brick and mortar.

His face was neutral, showing neither annoyance or concern at the weight of other that drifted over him. If he was mildly curious as to what the wards, stitched into the reality fabric of the place, were making of his proximity, it didn't show on his face.

After a moment he grinned.

"Jiggity jig indeed," he muttered, before walking forward. He made no effort to dampen his own presence letting it roil off him like a truth trumpeted ahead of his arrival.

B - Anytime later

Room twenty-two, on the third floor. Quaint enough, Lucifer briefly considered the fact that the room was windowless; that was ... unfortunate. He was used to his near panoramic view of LA from his loft, going back to a dark hole felt a lot like ... well, he wasn't going to dwell on that.

It was a room, with private facilities. He'd worked with less during his existence, this was merely a moment no more than a blink and there was so much more to be investigated, where he lay his head at night was a minor point.

Lucifer was a quiet neighbor and for the most part a quiet presence, unless one was sensitive to otherworldly power, then he might be a bit of a halogen light in the fog. But physically, he came and went quietly, more interested in observing than being observed.

For the moment at least.

About the most attention he may have brought to himself was the evening when he went looking for access to the roof. Without a window, he wasn't about to smoke in his room (Italian silk suits soaked up smoke in a distressing manner) so that meant finding outdoor access. As he was closer to the roof than going back down to the street, Lucifer was after a handy route.

Hands in the pockets of his slacks, he was standing next to a grandfather clock and intently studying the ceiling above the clock.

"Hmmm."


[OOC: Feel free to catch him at any point in either of these prompts! Or if you have a completely different idea, please feel free to throw it at me, either here or PM at retiredfromhell

A - Arrival

[gistful]

Although Anton didn't really have a magic-sense--most sorcerers in his world didn't--he had a good sense of when to recognise power. It wasn't a matter of the magic, so much as demeanour, expression, and experience. After five centuries, one became adept at recognising the powerful.

This one didn't bother to hide. Anton observed his entrance from the desk; the swagger, the gleam in his eyes, the delighted little way he looked around. He wasn't a tall man, or even a physically imposing one--Anton was his superior in both those respects.

But a man who flaunted his power didn't seem as small as he was. Anton very much doubted that any kedan in the room could look at the two of them and, afterward, remember that the newcomer was much slighter in build at all. Not just acting powerful, but being it. Knowing it.

There weren't many in Keeliai who could do both with so much zest and such a lack of fear or restraint.

"Welcome to the Midnight Hotel," Anton said evenly when the man had grown close enough to easily hear him, showing no sign of his conclusions on his face. "How may we help you today?"

[retiredfromhell]

Lucifer took his time on the path from the door towards the front desk. He took in everything around him, smiled at people in a manner that earned some smiles in return and sent others skittering on about their business. It was a casual thing, but by the time he reached the desk, he had every window, every door, every people measured and mentally mapped.

Old habits died hard, after all and not even the ones attached to hell. Simply keeping Lux happy and thriving had required a certain attention to detail.

The devil's in them after all.

As he reached the desk, he leaned one arm across it's surface and rested slightly over the counter. Most people probably came up to the desk and maintained a proper distanced back from the front; personal space and all that. Lucifer, not so much.

With one last glance around, his dark eyes swung full stop to Anton's face and locked there. He didn't blink, though he did smile, full wattage and drummed his long fingers on the top of the desk.

"Hello," he drawled the word in a very rich accented voice. "I've been directed to your fine establishment as the place for the newly arrived. So here I am. Newly arrived."

[gistful]

It was a very Larrikinesque movement--if restrained, in comparison to Anton's old friend. (Larrikin would have been all over the desk.) Anton's gaze didn't even flicker down to the elbow on the counter, but kept his gaze on the newcomer's face.

Playful, he added to his mental checklist. Powerful enough to be as playful as he wanted, and not care--or depend upon--people believing that 'playful' meant 'easily manipulated'. Quite an arresting gaze, though. Just as well Larrikin wasn't there; he'd have been all over this man, as well as the desk.

"So I see," Anton agreed impassively. "Were you also directed toward the rules of the establishment?"

Sometimes they got a bit lost in translation.

[retiredfromhell]

Aww Larrikin sounded like fun!

Though Lucifer continued to lounge in his adopted lean, when Anton showed no real reaction, one way or the other, he relaxed his stance a bit and smiled.

"No violence of any sort, fighting, murder and no thieving or encroaching uninvited into the space of another, yes got those." And he sounded unconcerned by them. The truth was, despite the propaganda he wasn't particularly interested in violence, murder or thieving.

Though encroaching uninvited, into the space of another, he might have to work on.

"And something about staying away from a room. But to tell you the truth mate, in my experience telling people to stay away from something is about like screaming 'LOOK HERE!' No one ever pays attention to the tale of Lot's wife." The last sentence was a bit of an aside, like an after thought of a memory.

But! Back to Anton with the intense gaze and the smile.

"Promise, I'll behave. Though I'm going to be up front now and say that I like to keep myself well stocked in whiskey, sobriety is not all it's cracked up to be. Also do you have a smoking policy?"

[gistful]

Larrikin had unfortunately been dead for a century, but Anton was getting some fairly strong nostalgia feelings. And this encounter had barely begun.

"True," Anton agreed. "But they also deserve fair warning, and what my reputation cannot do, the truth does." With most people. Maybe not with this one. There was something incredibly ... fey about this one.

(Very strong nostalgia feelings.)

"As long as it doesn't lead to either yourself or another breaking the rules," said Anton, "I've no objection to drinking. This establishment is generally dry to avoid the risk of groups becoming rowdy and uninhibited." That would make two who enjoyed drinking on their own, though. If things kept on Anton might wish Hopeless was around.

"No smoking inside," Anton continued, keeping the man's intense gaze without any outward discomfort. "For the health of the other patrons. If you must smoke, do it outside--well away from the doors--or on the roof."

He left note of the deal he'd made with Constantine. That wasn't something Anton wanted to encourage.

[retiredfromhell]

"Roof?" It was sort of a question but more of a pleased statement. "That'll be excellent."

About as close as he could come to the top floor of Lux back home. That covered drinking and smoking and alright, mental note about rowdy ... keep the orgies to a dull roar.

"All and all it sounds reasonable, where do I sign?" He asked, smile still in full effect. There was a pause and a glance around before one more question popped out. "Don't suppose you have a bar, lounge ... piano tucked somewhere?"

Given the power he could feel, moving through the walls of this establishment, Lucifer figured it might not hurt to inquire about what may not be readily visible.

[gistful]

What an interesting question, and caused about the first change in Anton's expression since the conversation began. "I do not, on any count," he admitted thoughtfully, "though the lack of a piano may be an oversight. Certainly, we get enough patrons now to qualify for a full house in the evenings."

A few of the kedan had taken to cooking meals for the groups which gathered for dinner. Having a piano around would offer a bit of ambiance, and with the number of Foreigners currently staying at the Hotel Anton's finances weren't as good as they seemed given the number of full rooms--since he let them barter for beds. Using the dining-area as a restaurant had practically already happened.

"Are you offering musical talents in exchange for the room?" Anton asked.

[retiredfromhell]

At the initial negative, Lucifer looked mildly put out but mostly unconcerned. It was only when Anton continued to talk and brought up the idea of an exchange that his attention re-engaged.

While the thought of, quite literally, playing for his supper (and room and board) was mildly galling, Lucifer did have to admit that it spoke to his sense of fairness. An equal bargain, which would leave him un-indebted to this man for his hospitality. If it was one thing Lucifer did, without fail, it was repay his debts, when he was unfortunate enough to collect them.

Being able to start out in this world without owing, would be ... appreciated.

Smiling, widely he finally straightened up -taking the conversation a bit more seriously- as he considered the offer.

"I wouldn't say no to that arrangement. Would you require any specific stipulations? Beyond the rules, which we've already discussed."

B-Anytime Later

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis felt the presence of the Prince of Darkness the moment she entered the Hotel after a long day at the Dojo. She immediately bristled, her irises shiting to blood red within an instant as the Void hissed harsh warnings in her head. It was afraid, angry and suspicious and Valdis had to spend a few moments separating out her own feelings before she dared move deeper into the Hotel. She was displeased by this development, the Prince she had known had always been a pompus ass, but unlike the Archdemons, the Prince hadn't cared much about her species.

She slowly made her way up the stairs toward her room, pulling the string from her dark hair so that it could fall loose around her shoulders. Revelations glowed brightly with its holy light, the red gem in the hilt pulsing almost as if indignant that her haven had been intruded upon. Reaching the third floor, she saw him standing in the hallway and stopped, raising a brow, one hand moving to settle on the hilt of the angelic blade. He looked different, but there was no doubt in her mind of his identity.

"Lucifer..." She said, eyes narrowing.

[retiredfromhell]

He was, to be precise, currently considering how to reach what was obviously the pull cord for the stairs. It was undignified to jump up, though given his height he could probably reach it if he tried still; he'd been attempting to find another work around.

One hadn't presented itself, so jump it was going to have to be. Except, damn ... person.

Actually, nooooo. Not person. Not precisely. In fact, she practically glowed with immortality and the touch of both Heaven and Hell. Not his Heaven or his Hell but some of the markers were definitely ... universal.

Curious and more curious, he weighed his options and then smiled.

"Yes, good that saves us the introduction part of the conversation," he said in a quick and easy manner, before pointing a long finger towards where her hand had settled on the angelic blade.

"May I borrow that?" He asked, pointing up towards the stair latch. "Can't quite reach that latch up there and I'd like to nick up to the roof for a smoke."

[redlightgreenlight]

Her eyes narrowed further and she moved her hand from the blade to cross her arms and cock a hip. Just as cocky as she remembered, and just as uncaring. The gall of him to ask to use her sword as a common stick, it was infuriating. She opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she thought of that, and then changed her mind. A brilliant smile spread across her face.

"Of course."

She drew the blade and it flashed brightly with holy light as she held it out to him, wondering just how much damage it would do to the ruler of Hell when it rejected him. Perhaps it would even turn him to dust, but that was wishful thinking and Anton probably wouldn't approve. At the very least it should burn him or give him a nasty shock, but he was the Prince of Darkness and she didn't know how his abilities worked.

[retiredfromhell]

As soon as the blade cleared it's sheath, he could sense it. The holy light didn't bother him, the way the stories said it should, if anything it was slightly intriguing and mildly irritating at the same time.

Peering at it, as if it were a curious sort of ant, he smiled at her and gently ticked his finger back and forth.

"It's impolite to lie," he admonished, giving the blade a dismissive wave of his hand and going back to sorting out how he was going to get that latch undone.

Hmmm.

Suddenly he turned and his smile widened.

"Got it! Why didn't I think of it before!" He exclaimed, as if they'd been in the middle of a conversation. Heading towards room number 22, Lucifer disappeared briefly, only to reappear with one of the low stools that sat at the foot of his bed. Setting it down, just in front of the clock, he dusted off his hands and climbed gracefully atop the cushion.

Ah, yes. Perfect. Latch achieved!

[redlightgreenlight]

Unconcerned, though slightly disappointed, Valdis slid the sword back into its sheath. She didn't bother replying to his admonishment, she didn't answer to him, nor did she care what he thought. He had a brilliant smile though. Her eyes followed him, her exxpression unchanging as he went to the room next to hers and reemerged with a stool. She frowned, realizing that the Devil was now apparently her neighbor. She would have to have words with Anton about this.

Her frown shifted to amusment as he climbed up onto the stool to undo the latch. "Your counterpart in my world would never have lowered himself to such a display," she commented, "Balancing atop a stool like a circus animal performing a trick."

Her smile and tone said she was joking despite the apparent harshness. This Lucifer didn't seem concerned about acting the fool, but then again, she had only met her version once.

[retiredfromhell]

There had been a time, a few million or perhaps a billion or two years ago, when comments like Valdis' would have seen the full extent of his temper unleashed. He'd gone through that period of pride, when his hold on Hell had been iron clad and no one, not even Maze dared to speak out of turn.

He'd gotten over it.

A combination of time, so much time, becoming comfortable in his own power, that he didn't need to see that power reflected in the fear of others and also simply boredom. Everybody nodding their heads got boring after an eon or two. As he told Maze, he found the occasional snarky comment to be amusing, rather than threatening any more.

Undoing to latch, he leaned back slightly as he reached to catch the folding stairs.

"Depending upon how old I was/am in your world, I suppose that is probably true," he remarked, mildly as he guided the stairs to the floor and hopped off the stool.

Pushing it out of his way, he gave her a quick glance and that lightening fast grin.

"However, I'm retired and at the moment I just want a smoke."

Which would see him heading up the stairs to navigate the door to the roof. She was welcome to follow or go talk to Anton about their current 'neighbor' situation, the choice was her's.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis tipped her head, saying nothing in reply despite her curiosity. The stairs creaked as he lowered them and the floorboards shifted slighty when he jumped off the stool. Her face twisted in honest confusion at his comment about retirement and she opened her mouth to respond a second too late, he was already headed toward the roof. She sighed, not moving, trying to fight the curiosity. A moment later she was following him up the stairs, leaving the stool in the hallway without a second thought.

"Does the Prince of Darkness get to retire?" She asked, emerging into the sunlight after him, "I wasn't aware that was an option."

She pulled her hair over one shoulder and crossed her arms, one brow raised in skepticisim.

"Was there much paperwork involved?"

A! when heaven and hell collide... Muwahahaha

[phoenixstrut]

It was almost comical, the way the vase fell from her hands and shattered across the floor, but to fuss over it was the possibly furthest thought from her mind as she felt his presence creep into the hotel. Frozen in place, her gaze snapped to the door, her heart racing and the grand white wings on her back bristling.

What was he doing here?! This was, by far, the cruelest trick the turtle had spun on her.

She did her best to remain calm, panic bubbling in her stomach as she stared, unable to tear her eyes away.

[retiredfromhell]

When he entered the hotel, it was with a focus towards the front desk and it's occupant; Anton. He took in the other residents in the lobby with a slow and careful gaze, grand white wings were definitely going to catch his attention and he made a mental note of their owner before his attention shifted to securing a room.

A room and a stern reminder of the rules. Not that he was interested in breaking any rules, except perhaps for the one about booze.

With his key in hand, he turned to take himself up the stairs in order to investigate his new abode. Three jumps up the steps, he paused and sprang, gracefully, back down to the lobby and walked over towards her, smiling.

"Hello," he drawled out, smile never dimming. "Suppose we'd best not pretend there isn't an elephant in the room."

He clapped his hands together and then kept talking.

"I'm retired," he said, as if announcing you're retirement as the Lord of Hell is something you do every day. "So whatever is going on, up, down or sideways back in Father's creation, I cannot begin to tell you how little I care. Also our host," he paused and pointed towards Anton, "has made it very clear, no violence and I intend to abide by those rules."

Mostly because he wasn't feeling arsed enough to do otherwise. Clapping his hands together, Lucifer turned to leave, pausing only to point down at the broken vase.

"Don't forget your vase."

Long legged strides began to carry him back towards the stairs.

B.

[hellboundheart]

The problem with putting one former Lord of Hell and a Laughing Magician on the floor together was that the latter tended to leave signs of himself all around, including magical energy. Whoever had sweeping duty probably didn't like the occasional cigarette end Constantine left in his wake. Weirdly enough, the smell of smoke didn't follow him or lay around thanks to a minor spell that drew it into his trenchcoat. Probably the only way Shudder had agreed to let John smoke where he wanted.

If one were sensitive to magical energies, they were everywhere on the floor John and Lucifer lived on. Tiny wards hid among Shudder's powerful sigils. Traces of spells Constantine used on himself dusted places - like Lucifer, Constantine made himself seem less there via magic to pass in and out. Whether that was due to Lucifer's appearance was anyone's guess.

The Magician himself finally put in an appearance on the rooftop where Lucifer had been exiled to smoke, poking around with a thin wooden dowl into the small piles of clutter. "Come on out, Mange. I know you're around somewhere."

Let me know if you need me to change anything here!

[retiredfromhell]

As exiles went, and he was a bit of an authority on the subject, the roof wasn't all that bad.

Actually, it was quite interesting and told it's own sort of tale in the way it didn't allow anything to drop off it. Lucifer had discovered this the first time he'd field stripped one of his cigarette butts and attempted to flick it off into the night, only to have it rebound right into his chest.

The magic here really was fascinating. Take for instance, the rabbit who had gotten up here somehow. It hadn't seemed too impressed with Lucifer and Lucifer was even less impressed with it so he'd given it almost no notice.

However, as his very interesting floor mate appeared, looking for said rabbit, Lucifer's wandering attention came back to the subject at hand.

"Behind there," he remarked pointing, with the cigarette in his hand towards, a bit of building material.

[hellboundheart]

"Eff you, you effin' snitch," the white rabbit muttered sourly at Lucifer before hopping away. Bleary pink eyes glared at him, droopy white ears bouncing with each hop as the animal dodged behind a panel with a flick of its tail.

"Goddamnit, Mange. I knew you were around," John said more to himself than Lucifer as he ripped the panel away to reveal absolutely nothing. If he hadn't seen the fluff of white for himself, Constantine would have thought the man was part of it or messing with him.

A shake of his head, and Constantine finally took in the man on the rooftop. Someone new. Good. He'd gotten tired of being the newest source of curiosity for the natives. Was easier to run his con games.

"I'll catch that little bastard sooner or later," he griped with a sigh. He hadn't gotten close enough to tell if it was a bit of stray magic or the actual rabbit himself. Things were strange here. "One of the new people, yeah? Welcome to the turtle. You from Earth?"

Considering the worlds John had heard about, it seemed like a logical question to ask at the start.

[retiredfromhell]

Talking rabbit?

No, still not particularly interesting in and of itself, though Lucifer could appreciate the snark. He even chuckled at it or perhaps he was chuckling at the way the rabbit gave the blonde man the slip.

"Don't know, think I'll put my money on Bugs," he drawled out, taking a drag off his cigarette.

At the welcome and the question, Lucifer's eyebrows went up and he considered his answer carefully.

"In a manner of speaking, suppose so." He said, glancing at the cherry on the end of the cigarette and then back to Constantine. "At least for the last five years. Guess you've been here long enough to learn to ask a question like that?"

[hellboundheart]

"Whatever he told you was a lie. Probably. Every once in awhile he comes off with something intelligent."

When it came to Mange, the rabbit couldn't keep his mouth shut. Of that Constantine was sure. Scowling, he flipped over a few pieces of trash near the plank to make sure the beast hadn't slipped away. It had to be a hallucination or bit of stray magic that had gotten away from him.

Or just a great way to spy on people since other than Harvey, what grown man chased after a rabbit? Dusting himself off, John tapped the wooden rod in his hand on the ground three times idly as if getting it clean too. A swirl of magic slithered up the impromptu wand disguised as a few puffs of dust from the ground. It was an old habit of John's to check for any traps nearby.

"Five years? You a fast grower?" he asked in that same careless way as he patted his pockets down for a ciggie of his own. "Mind if I get one off you, mate? Seem to have left mine behind while I was on a rabbit hunt."

The bit about himself John was quick to avoid with extra talk, a magician trying to get the audience to look at his right hand while he pulled the trick off with his left.

[retiredfromhell]

Setting the cigarette to his lips, Lucifer used the cover of taking a drag to disengage from the conversation about the rabbit. He was more interested in what John was doing with the stick/wand and the attempt at a discreet use of magic.

He would give the man props, to most beings it probably was a very discreet use of magic, the sort of slight of hand that came from years of practice. More note worthy, for the moment at least, than a talking rabbit.

At the question, the one about the cigarette rather than the comment about his growth, Lucifer considered his options. He reached up and pulled the cigarette between his teeth down, so he could turn the full force of his smile on John; the slightly unsettling smile. Pulling the silver case from his pocket, he thumbed it open and held it out towards the man.

"Don't mind in the least, but you'll owe me one." He said, silken smooth.

He was playing. Oh, not about the cigarette, he was dead serious about that but in the grand scheme of things, he was amusing himself while simultaniously looking to further educate himself.

Just how attentive was this magic user?

[hellboundheart]

"I'll pass then, mate. Not much of one for owing anyone anything. Never know when they might call their marker in."

Another trio of idle taps from the wand accompanied John's words, patternless one might assume like the nervous tic some had with clicking a pen or tapping a pencil. That was, unless they had a magic sense or caught sight of the a few puffs of dust on the trail the rabbit had taken away from Lucifer. John's false smile fell away when he finally paid attention to Lucifer versus his little spells to see if the rabbit had been real or not.

"I can always head back to my room. Prefer to do my smoking indoors anyway. Might rain out here," he said, the magician's patter sound coming back to his voice as the smile reemerged. Charm, baby. That was the way to go. Wasn't a bad looking bloke, and he might hand over one of those cigarettes still. "Five years? You one of those world-hopper sorts like the Jedi or something else?"

That smile just... wasn't quite right. If this was another cannibal, John was demanding they get a police force around here.