Los Angeles, Tuesday

[my_own_advocate]

It was a nice, bright morning in Los Angeles, just a few days before Lucifer's self-imposed ultimatum about leaving ended. He remained on a quest to apologize for his therapist-inflicted overthinking and subsequent attempts to break up with Duke and Octavia, and so, today...

...Today it was time to spoil Octavia with a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific.

He hummed brightly to himself as he paid for their tickets, then slid past the nice cashier and into the aquarium properly.

[[ for two, and some ocd. everything taken and adapted from Lucifer episode 5x14, 'Nothing Lasts Forever'. ]]

Comments

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

"Is there anything I've told you about them these past few years that made you think otherwise?" Lucifer asked.

Well. At least Amenadiel was currently preoccupied with Remy.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[betterthanaplan]

"Hope springs eternal," Duke said dryly. "Though I guess it's nice to know that even celestial family reunions are guaranteed suck-fests."

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[okteiviakom]

"You haven't talked about them much at all," Octavia pointed out, eyeing the crowd. "Which I guess says enough."

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes, well," Lucifer began, and turned around, and...

Found himself eye to eye with Zadkiel's charming self. "Who invited the Devil to our gathering of angels?" growled the younger angel, glaring at him.

Lucifer sighed. Of course. "Brother Zadkiel, still taking your Angel of Righteousness role too seriously, I see."

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[betterthanaplan]

"I see belief in excommunication isn't just a papal thing," Duke said, raising an eyebrow.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[okteiviakom]

It would be unwise to try and punch an angel, right? When there were so many of them, and it was this early in the proceedings to boot.

Octavia settled for a good glower.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

Sadly, neither the glowering nor Lucifer's response stopped Zadkiel from what he intended to do: he leaned over, very deliberately, and spat on Lucifer's nice, clean Louboutins.

"How dare you," Lucifer snarled, eyes glowing red in an instant.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[exasperangel]

Yeah, that... was probably the right moment for Amenadiel to return. "Lucy," he said, stepping up beside them. "Father won't appreciate a brawl at His retirement party."

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

"Right," Lucifer said, his lip still curled in a snarl as the red faded again. "Excuse me."

He slid past Zadkiel and his bloody staff. At least the route to Father was unobstructed this time.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[betterthanaplan]

Duke gave Zadkiel a long stare before following.

"Dick," he muttered. It wasn't the worst thing he could call the guy, but sometimes a simple classic felt best.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[okteiviakom]

Octavia didn't bother.

She just glided coolly past Zadkiel.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[hismysteriousways]

God's apron read 'Let There Be Burgers'.

He looked up from the grill with a grand smile on his face. "Hello, my sons! And Octavia and Duke! Welcome to my retirement party!" he gushed. He grinned harder. "Can you smell what I'm cooking?" Beat. "I learned that phrase from Linda."

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

"Dad," Lucifer hissed, "I thought your retirement was supposed to be a secret...?"

"It was, and thank you for keeping it," Dad said brightly.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[betterthanaplan]

"Man's gotta come out in his own time," Duke said, shrugging a little helplessly.

Maybe this would help speed things along.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[okteiviakom]

Maybe? Octavia wasn't hopeful, though.

"This is another one of those moments where I see the family resemblance," she muttered, mostly to Duke.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

Gabriel ducked in before Lucifer could voice his displeasure at either of those comments, sidling up to Dad like the nosy little brat she was. "So, Dad. Since you're retiring, there'll be a new you, right? Who's it gonna be? If it's a secret, whisper it in my ear. I won't tell a soul."

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[exasperangel]

Remiel rolled her eyes, striking the ground with her spear. "It's obvious who will replace Father. It's Amenadiel."

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer caught the troubled look on his brother's face, and knew the man would jump in to go-- sacrifice his hopes of happiness on Father's throne yet again.

He wasn't going to let that happen.

"Actually, he's not," he said. "Amenadiel doesn't want it."

The crowd of angels exploded in loud, frenetic chatter.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[betterthanaplan]

Duke closed his eyes briefly at the explosion, and wondered if there was somewhere he and Octavia could slip off to.

He was so done with celestial family drama.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[okteiviakom]

Octavia didn't close her eyes.

She just maybe took a half-step closer to Duke's side, watching the faces of the angels around them as they took in this bit of news.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[my_own_advocate]

"There are plenty of others who are worthy!" Zadkiel bellowed from the crowd.

More nervous babbling. Lucifer rubbed at his face. "How about we let Dad come to a decision?" he called.

"What's it going to be, Dad?" Gabriel asked, pulling on Dad's apron. He remained silent. "Come on, one of us is worthy, right? Someone qualified?"

"Qualified." Lucifer rubbed at his face. "I don't think any of them have even run as much as a taco truck," he muttered.

Several of his siblings shot him angry looks.

"What?" he said, raising his voice. "You think running a celestial kingdom is easy? What, you think knowing how to twirl a staff or look pretty is going to accomplish anything--"

"Are you trying to insult Hajobadiel?!"

You know what? Lucifer hadn't missed his family even one bit.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[hismysteriousways]

"Quiet," God snapped.

He raised the tongs in his hand. "One thing at a time," he said. "My retirement plan, then my successor."

He ignored the groans. "So who wants another hotdog?"

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[betterthanaplan]

Duke raised a hand.

"Not to turn down a Godly hotdog, but, uh. You wanna let us in on what your retirement plan is?"

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[hismysteriousways]

"I'm working on it," God said jovially, put a hotdog into a bun, and held it out for Duke to take.

Re: A Park Somehow Devoid of Humans, Yet Still in Los Angeles, Noon

[okteiviakom]

"Reassuring," Octavia muttered dryly.

But at least the worst of the angel chatter had stopped.