lilith

.THE PARTY.

One minute she was looking down at a cup of tea, lost in the muddy image of her reflection and the dreams of a family she hadn't seen in forever, and the next? Everything had become a blur of memories, nightmares, dreams, and a reality that she once desperately tried to break free from. It all came together to leave her breathless before a darkness took hold. It left her cold, lost, but that was nothing new. She hadn't felt any sort of warmth while in Heaven, so whatever this was? Fear could not be found inside Lilith. Instead, there was a strong desire to prepare for whatever awaited the Queen of Hell. It was her last thought right before she felt an overwhelming urge to scream out the names of her husband and child. In fact, that was exactly what would have happened if anything sort of noise could leave her lips.

Nothing but silence, and then.... The world, a new one came flooding back to Lilith. Before she knew it, she was standing in the middle of some sort of celebration. Eyes narrowed as she glanced around to better understand her current predicament. This wasn't Heaven. It couldn't have been. Actually, it was starting to feel more and more like...Earth the longer she stood there. There didn't seem to be any demons around, nor angels singing their Creator's praise.

Had she been sent down to do something? It didn't make any sense nor did the fact that her clothes were definitely not her own. Instead of a long, violet gown made out of the softest and most luxurious materials of all time, she wore a simple and very scratchy dress? It wasn't even her color, but more beige with white and a few specks of red in the flowers that bordered the hem of her skirt. Meanwhile, her hair still flowed freely behind her but atop it was something? She reached up to grab a crown of daisies? She hadn't worn anything like that since Eden and it was probably the only thing she didn't mind.

Before Lilith could even think to grab someone and demand an explanation, there was a growl from her stomach that was followed by a light blush on her cheeks. She couldn't help but glance at the food around her. It all looked so appealing and smelled even better... Still. She was a Queen who couldn't just chomp on a turkey leg while all were watching! She just couldn't or...could she..?

The universe must've been listening because right to the side, Lilith caught sight of a stall giving out free masks. They looked so incredibly cheap and once she took hold of one, felt like it could easily be crushed in her hand. However, it would at least help hide her identity? Not that she recognised anyone, but better to be smart about things. Quickly, she put on a light purple mask trimmed with glittery feathers. Of course, the second she did that, two of those feathers fell to the ground.

"Huh? Adopted?"

She hadn't been paying attention before, but hearing something that sounded like she was about to be forced into becoming a pet? Well, forget the turkey leg.

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LUCIFER:
Ugh. This whole thing feels like a big fat wad of costume jewelry, so plastic and at-the-last-minute. It didn't suit him at all, and he would have preferred getting chased by a bloodthirsty monster again if he was honest.

But pride demanded he go above and beyond, if only for himself. Seated atop a table, paying no heed to the festivity, he was dressed in soft blue and had called upon his fiddle of gold. He was hard to notice amid the chattering crowds, the tin whistles and the drum beats that added a pulse of life to this rather tacky party.

Then he put bow to strings, and began to play. His eyes slipped closed to allow for focus as the sound that poured forth gradually seized the tin whistle, the drum and coiled around it like a serpent, silencing that cheery campiness. What replaced it was mournful, low keys that slowly danced, reminiscent of quiet days in the estate broken up by a sudden desire for the king to play wordlessly and express himself when words failed him.

Perhaps today was another one of those days... or he was feeling bored.

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LILITH:
She'd wandered over to a table filled with all sorts of decadent, some of which she'd never seen before. They all seemed to sparkle like jewels in the light of sun that shone above them. Slowly, they called for her to pick one up and put to rest the search for answers. She had her mask, so hiding was no longer an issue. It was fine? A strange feeling that pacified her desire to place the need for answers took control and as such, she brought a small apple tart to her lips before the world ceased to spin.

She swallowed, her eyes widening as she carefully placed the pastry down and goosebumps littered her skin. It was as if she were in a trance as she stood there and listened to the sound of a fiddle that could belong to no other than him. She held her breath and made a wish, a selfish one at that, for it all to be true. How could she turn and be faced with yet another dream of the past that haunted her days? It was cruel, beyond the punishment she deserved for her crime against their Creator.

However, Lilith called upon all the strength inside her and finally turned. People of all sorts had gathered around, thus blocking her view. It was then that she decided to call out in the only way that he would know was her.

No matter the world, her voice had been seen as a treasure and so she inhaled sharply, exhale. The haunting melody of a song she'd sing in their garden, an area just below the window to his workshop, had begun to fill the air around her. Magic or not, it softly called for him to be that someone in the song, to let her in and embrace a world that while never perfect, was their home. As the song continued, her voice rose with a renewed strength, a determination and hope that anything was possible.

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LUCIFER:
He never failed to draw some form of crowd when he tried. Playing on rooftops here, sitting on the windowsill of his room, the place didn't matter. When you've played an instrument for some hundreds of years, you not only mastered it, but you learned how to truly make it sing.

He loved the accordion and the violin the most, despite being able to play just about everything. But while the accordion was fun, the sound of strings was always the ticket to touching parts of his heart he'd thought had gone missing forever.

But then there were the songs that would haunt his dreams, send him sitting upright in the middle of a tumultuous night and realizing none of it was real any more. Yet this time, the first time in a LONG time, he was wide awake. For even in the thickest crowd that marveled as he played, his eyes flew open, and for just a moment his bow's movement skipped.

He breathed her name, was confused, but his hands moved on their own to shift tunes, to add a melody to the song being sung.

Then... wait, what's going on...?

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LILITH:

She was a master of the art of song, a true wonder to behold when her inner nightingale began to fill the air with the most beautiful of words. However, even she paused for the smallest of moments upon hearing her name. It didn't matter the crowd around them, the static that took up the background. All of it fell short when she swore he had said her name. She could feel herself drawn to him, her body begging to close the distance between them. It was...magnetic, electric. Fingers itched to touch him, to graze those bright red cheeks and cover them in kisses. They had their moments of heartache and tears, of course. In fact, her departure while forced still didn't excuse the fact that they had problems. Still... her heart sang out to him. He was the only one who could ever properly accompany her on the stage like a true partner in crime.

Hells, she missed that.

It left her wondering how any of this could be real. She'd been debating it since the moment his music touched her ears, made her entire being wish to dance. No one else could provoke such a reaction, but... How? How was he here? It just--

As they continues with their song, the sounds was questions fell silent to it all. Slowly, she began to make her way through the crowd, her eyes searching for his. She came to him like a caged bird who had finally been sent free to fly back home.

By the time the final line was sung, her hand extended outward and reaching for him. She was still a few feet away, but he was within her view. The sudden reality of it all causing her to freeze in place or was it just the desire to know if he would/could close the gap? Was he finally strong enough to take the hand being offered...? Did he want this just as much as...she did?

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LUCIFER:

She broke through the crowd and it took way too much of his own mental fortitude to keep from stopping play or worse, grinding the bow against the strings. That'd be poor sport.

But once the song ended he was dumbstruck, looking from the offered hand to her face. He stared in disbelief, wondering if he was just having another lonely hallucination.

Lucifer took a sharp breath and made a show of stretching his arms over his head. "WHEW...! Boy, I'm beat! I think I smell fresh bread at the bakery, and I've got a bit of sourdough calling my name. Thanks for having a listen, folks! Always nice to have an adoring audience~"

He slid off the table and dismissed the violin. But as he made his walk, seemingly to pass her by, his arm extended as if to fix the way his sleeve lay over the limb. If the reach passed through and proved it was just another way his mind was playing tricks, no worse for the wear.

But his fingers brushed hers and he stopped dead. He steadied his expression, keeping some level of coolness, though if you looked closely there was just a touch of sweat at the brow.

He'd been fooled before, sitting in the hedge maze having tea with a little Charlie only he could see not a month ago.

"...Baking a pie tonight. How would you like it?" Perhaps he thought often of his family, making it easy for the fae to generate illusions. But his mind was otherwise a bear trap when faced with countless sinners and overlords that would love to pick open just a crack and seize the King of Hell for themselves. Only the real Lily would know how she preferred his specialty.
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LILITH:

She watched as curiosity took hold of herself. He could never be anything less than Creation's greatest showman and clearly this place hadn't changed that fact. It was comforting, igniting hope inside her until it seemed as if...she was nothing more, but a ghost to him. How could she blame Lucifer for that. Seven years and he dismissed her from his mind. She was just another face in the world, nothing special... She could feel her heart breaking, disappointment washing over her expression until his fingers brushed against her own.

"Lulu..." she whispered just as before. It took her a moment to regain her senses and quickly put the pieces together. After all, upon her arrival, she'd been just as skeptical about everything here. No one was to be trusted, so perhaps he thought this was all some sort of trick? Although, who would ever dare to imitate her? Well, she'd find that out soon enough.

"With my family," she smirked, her voice light and airy before continuing onward. "And as always, cinnamon, nutmeg, a splash of lemon, and those apples from my favorite tree. The one with our initials carved inside a heart shaped...apple."

She then tilted her head slightly to the right, gauging his own reaction. This had to be real. It just...had to be.
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LUCIFER:

As she answered, he at first remained measured. But she continued, and his head turned as the walls came crumbling down. He felt his heart leap into his throat as he turned her hand and slowly laced their fingers.

The added lemon. Her favorite tree. The carved initials. No way their captors would have known that.

"...Hey," he greeted gently, head canted fondly. His voice was a little thick. "It's... it's been a while."
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LILITH:

“Too long,” she replied, squeezing his hand while enjoying the sensation of skin against skin. It was the kind of warmth that could make melt glaciers or hearts that had been frozen in the name of self perseverance.

“I thought I was all alone again…” Granted, both of them being here wasn’t ideal. Someone needed to be back home and keeping an eye on not just Hell, but their daughter. However, she couldn’t hide the sparkle of happiness in her eyes. She then leaned in closer, her lips so close that he would be able to feel her warm breath against him.

“Or maybe my mind is really playing tricks. Would it be too much to ask for a kiss?” Her voice may have sounded sweet, but if this was all someone’s idea of a joke…? She’d make it rain that person’s blood. No one kissed her, no one touched her like this except Lucifer.
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LUCIFER:

The whole 'captured by the fae' thing couldn't be further from his mind. It was too busy being filled with countless memories of her, times when he was so happy despite their imprisonment.

The memories raced further through his head as she drew closer, and he felt silly for doubting. He would never forget or mistake the scent of her, the shape of her lips, the color of her favorite lipstick and the gloss of it catching the light. Forgive him, the little sound in his throat was equal parts whimper and groan. Even if they'd lived for over ten thousand years, seven-plus years had a way of feeling like a god-damned eternity.

Lucifer closed the gap between them, his kiss only mildly out of practice, a lingering touch of dispelling disbelief; like she would simply dissolve into dust and he'd wake up in his bed in the castle. But he knew this softness, he knew this taste...

It broke and he bit back an oath from just a breath away- no... do it RIGHT, you idiot- before he eased in again for something more of a welcome home after a long and arduous day of being trapped in the most god-awful meetings. A hand reached up to settle beneath her ear.
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LILITH:

His whimper and groans failed to go undetected by his Queen. She picked up on those enchanting sounds instantly because few things in life had ever brought her such satisfaction as them. To know that one simple kiss could still elicit such things... He loved her, he really did and that's all she's ever wanted. She leans into that kiss, her lips gently dancing with his and slowly revealing just how starved she'd been for his affection.

It was never any secret that Lilith was beautiful. Everyone always turned to her whenever she entered a room. However, not once did she ever truly entertain their glances. They were only entitled to a polite smile or small nod of her head before she found a way to escape their eyes. He was the one she wanted, the sugar rush she'd chase ever second of the day if allowed.

This was definitely...her Lulu.

She mumbled his name, clearly protesting the kiss unending so soon until that mumble turned into a little giggle against his lips. Always trying to be perfect but never understanding that he already was...to her. She leaned into his hand, a sudden wave of exhausting hitting her as she did so. No one but him knew how long her days were. She placed her hand over his and though she may not have said it with words, she hoped he'd never let go.

"I need you...so much..." she whispered to him, breaking the kiss but still staying just as close. By then, the entire world had faded around. It was just them and nothing else. She didn't even care if there were tears running down her cheeks. It'd be the first time she ever cried in such a public setting, but so be it. This reunion simply wouldn't allow her to hide those emotions that had been begging to be released.