video | un: detdecker

[couldkillthedevil]

Besides all this mumbo-jumbo about portals and the fact I've obviously lost my mind and am lying strapped to a hospital bed somewhere, I've got a few things I'd like to clear up—

[The blonde woman frowns deeply at the screen, brows drawn tightly together in displeasure.]

—namely, it's been told to me that we can't leave this place until they've scrounged up enough 'resources' to send us back, which seems oddly convenient. Does anyone know if there's been success with that yet? Has anyone been sent back home, or is that some nebulous 'someday' thing they're telling us? Second of all...

[Her hand comes up to gently cup a small gold locket hanging around her neck; a gift from the city to her, it seemed. Her mouth works for a moment, trying to find the words.]

Trixie, baby, if you can hear me, mommy's here and going to find you. I promise. Just sit tight, monkey.

Comments

[couldkillthedevil]

It sounds like a lot more than just sidetracked.

[Something about his voice and countenance has her concerned, now. There's been so much going on with him lately and she's felt absolutely powerless to help him. Mostly because he wouldn't let her. Now that they were here, she wanted him to let her in. Let her help, in whatever small way she could.

She leaned back to look at his face, brows drawn tightly together.]

Sure. I think I could use a drink anyway.

[hellicious]

Well, yes, but for the sake of standing here in a stairwell, I was attempting to simplify.

[He looked down at her, seeing that expression that was both intriguing and a little terrifying. She wasn't going to let this go, was she?

Well, maybe that was for the best. They had to get this out, after all. But was now really the best time?]

Ah, I've got something up in my quarters. Shall we?

[couldkillthedevil]

Lead the way.

[To think they'd both arrived here and were in the same proximity this whole time. And she almost thought she'd never see him again— but couldn't really think of it that way, could she? Not when she still had all the reason in the world to get home.

Gently, she clasped a hand around his arm again to stop him from heading up quite yet.]

Lucifer. Have you heard anything about Trixie?

[hellicious]

[He'd been about to turn to head back up the stairs, but the hold stopped him. He turned to look back at her, confusion on his face for a moment until her question cleared it up.]

Your offspring? No, can't say as I have. I would have come looking for you sooner if I had.

[couldkillthedevil]

[Chloe frowned and nodded, biting her lip as she drew back again. She hadn't exactly expected him to say yes, because she would've figured he'd take care of her in her stead, but it's still a disappointment regardless. Not that she necessarily wanted her to be here in this strange place — she wanted the exact opposite — but it's that not knowing that bothers her. The fact that Trixie could be here and her not even knowing like with Lucifer made her stomach churn.]

Yeah. That's what I thought. If you hear anything...

[She trailed off, letting him fill in the gap.]

[hellicious]

Look, love, if she's here, which I somewhat doubt, either she or someone else will have seen your little call to arms. There do seem to be some responsible persons around here. If she's here, she'll be brought to you.

[His free hand came down to pat hers on his arm, a small smile there.]

Though, I'm not certain what's worse; her being here or her being left with Maze and the Douche.

[couldkillthedevil]

I know that, but that still doesn't mean I should just give up and assume otherwise. I only just found you, after all. Besides... even if she's not here now, who knows if she'll show up later or not. So just— keep an eye out. For me.

[She takes her hand away, letting out a small sigh. That last comment does make her lips quirk up, though.]

Call me crazy, but I might've actually come to trust Maze with her. In short bouts.

[hellicious]

I promise that if I come across the little creature, I'll usher her over to you posthaste.

[Hopefully he could manage it without having her clutching at his hand again. Rude.]

Furthering my concern that you've been hit on the head. Come on, Detective. We've... well. Unless there's somewhere you need to be...?

[couldkillthedevil]

Thank you.

[The tension visibly drains from her shoulders when she hears that. His second comment has her shaking her head, though she does look a bit pensive before she speaks. She's been a busy bee, you see, already compiling a list of things she needed to do.]

No, no, it's fine— the other things can wait.

[hellicious]

[So... there were other things. Well. Why did it make him feel like he'd swallowed something bitter to realize that? His smile got a little tight around the corners, his eyes dropping before he gestured up towards the stairs.]

Well... if you've the time, I'm, ah, up on the ninth.

[couldkillthedevil]

[Hey, she wouldn't be Chloe Decker if she wasn't juggling five things at once and doing her utmost best to over-prepare for everything.]

Yeah, of course. We should talk. About... everything. [She paused for a moment, gesturing behind him at the next staircase.] Shall we...?

[hellicious]

Yes. Yes, of course.

[Why did he suddenly feel so... heavy? Like the idea of being alone with her was too much? Like there was a pivotal moment that mi- oh. Right. Yes. The talk. He had a moment of wondering if perhaps now was the right time for that.

But he wanted her to know. He needed her... well. He needed her.

Didn't he?]

[couldkillthedevil]

Great. You're, uh... kind of...

[She gestured again at the stairs that he was currently blocking before awkwardly starting to slide past him. As she did, she gave him a small, encouraging smile.] Floor nine, right?

[hellicious]

Oh.

[He was an idiot, clearly. Turning, he moved to fall quickly in step with her, keeping his stride even with hers and moving up the stairs.]

Yes. Ah, private quarters. Which is likely for the best.

[What with his whole magnetism bit. The last thing he needed while trying to sort through the tangle of confusion around her was someone slipping into bed with him. Not that he would have minded that before...

But that was before.]

[couldkillthedevil]

I'm sure it is.

[Said matter-of-factly, voice not conveying any real opinion one way or the other. Lucifer was Lucifer and he liked his 'company', after all. Taking private living quarters just went naturally with that, but it's not like she needed any details.

She took quick note of what level they were currently on and went about climbing those steps, keeping her gaze forward as she went.]

[hellicious]

[The level of tension that had risen between them was palpable, enough so that even he felt it, making him step quietly as he kept pace with her, one hand on the rail, the other hovering somewhere just behind her back.]

Are you... ah, settling in? Well?

[couldkillthedevil]

As well as I can, I guess. The people here seem to be trying everything in their power to make us comfortably enough.

[All things considered, it wasn't a bad deal. A job outright given to her, money, a free month's rent. Physically, she was perfectly fine. It's everything else she still wasn't sure how to handle.

She glanced over her shoulder at him.]

Are you?

[hellicious]

Not really, but that's nothing to do with here.

[No, that had everything to do with that bit before here. With what he'd woken up with. With the fact that he didn't have scars on his back anymore and why.]

Ooh, I did get a lovely gift earlier.

[couldkillthedevil]

Ah. Well, if you need someone to listen...

[She stopped; after all, he should know where she was going with that by now.

They got to the top of the staircase and she turned, taking the steps for the next one that would lead them right to the ninth floor. At the mention of a gift, her hand came up to touch the little gold locket around her neck hidden under her shirt.]

You too, huh? I saw the festival going on by the fountain when I first arrived. Seems they've got a lot of really specific traditions here.

[hellicious]

[He saw her touch her throat, remembering the locket she'd shown and figuring it was that. Thinking of what he'd gotten, he decided maybe telling her exactly what it was may not be the best way to go. Even if it was still in his inner coat pocket.]

Mm. Magic, even. That didn't... ah, bother you?

[couldkillthedevil]

Of course it does. This whole thing bothers me.

[Understatement, really. She had no idea how to make sense of any of this. And then there were the people who kept mentioning monsters and creatures.]

Magic or some freak act of nature, whatever it is, we need to get back somehow. That much I know, if nothing else.

[hellicious]

Both, I'd wager.

[They hit the rise of the next flight and he moved to open the door that led to his hallway.]

Magic and a weird act of nature that they've somehow taken advantage of. There are numerous little holes in realities, but they rarely stay open, nor are they controllable by many. Down the hall and to your left, love.

[Said with an almost blase nature, as if it was just every day for him.]

[couldkillthedevil]

I'm not even going to touch that one.

[She could argue and debate with him about magic and holes torn in the space-time continuum all she wanted, but she wasn't in any mood to try and defend the sanctity of her reality.

What she did do was follow his instructions and head down the hallway until she reached his door, waiting for him for entry and deciding to grasp the small thread of his statement that actually made sense to her.]

So do you think they're lying, then? About us being brought here by accident?

[hellicious]

Could be. I find it odd that they'd have a temporal displacement just laying open as it is without any way to control it without it bouncing all over the heretofore.

[He moved in, a little too close to her as he reached for the handle, looking down at her and wondering why it was that every time he got close to her lately, his stomach did little flip flops.]

Casa Del Lucifer. It's no Lux, unfortunately, but for now, it seems it'll have to do.

[couldkillthedevil]

Yeah. The whole thing just seems oddly convenient. That, and apparently the only info they can give me about why we were brought here is because we're 'displaced'. And that's only after I poked and prodded about it. I'm not sure what to think yet, honestly.

[She felt him close in from behind her and felt something in her belly dip before it rose again. Drawing her bottom lip between her teeth, she took a step inside when he got the door open, not even realizing she'd been taking such shallow breaths until there was some more distance put between them.]

You seem to make places your own just by being there, anyhow. I'm sure you'll do the same here.