AN:
Song is 'I Turn to You ' by Christina Aguilera
Wouldn't be fair:
Handling Lucifer's bouts of depression with aromatherapy and music from a radio helped. When he lost interest, lacked energy, and felt completely empty on most days. Elanye worked with Charlie to check in throughout while keeping him company, or bringing him a meal. Insomnia he suffered from after his separation from his wife and 7 years vanished. First night they tried this experiment was the night before Elanye slept over. Curled up to her side Lucifer slept the night away without waking a single second. Second few nights, this happened when she was away in the living world with her nephew. Lucifer slept those nights away with Wywave and Alastor; were a call away.
Everything else was filled with someone always there for him to have pointless conversations or keep him company. Gave Vaggie and Elanye a chance to further build their familial bonds with Lucifer. Sometimes tea or cinder with snacks was brought by Niffy. Wywave came with Ajax or Chewy when he was done with his handyman duties. He brought a wooden duck decoy with a waterproof coating as an ice breaker. Adam covered in between swing shifts to just talk with Lucifer over the past. Finding himself getting over a lot of trauma when he just spoke about what he buried. Charlie could be found around meal times after checking in with Elanye and everyone. Sharing with her dad what happened that day with her best smile.
Ended one day …
A soft harmonic sound stirred him from under the covers when it entered his room. Carried a tune he had to investigate with his pushing the covers back. Putting aside his ducky plushie that he was cuddling as he was stirred awake. Stretching his hands to the ceiling as he inhaled spiced apple scent from Elanye's oil diffuser. Before he placed his feet to the floor and listened as his eyes drifted to a side table. Where his newest addition is in the form of a small frame photo. Words coming to his lips seem to follow the sound as he rises from bed.
When I'm lost, in the rain, in your eyes
I know I'll find the light to light my way.
When I'm scared, losing ground, when my world is going crazy,
You can turn it all around yes
And when I'm down you're there pushing me to the top.
You're always there givin' me all you've got.
His fingers tranced the edges of the frame with his eyes on the smiling photo of Elanye looking at him. He waved his free hand to have the curtains open themselves and turn on the lights. Hoo Hoo opened his eyes at the first rays of the sun from his perch. Wings flapping before he took flight across the room to Lucifer's bedside table. Where he had his feathers stroked by Lucifer after he landed with wings resting. Where he removed a post it with Elanye's handwriting telling to let her owl out.
For a shield from the storm, for a friend for a love to keep me safe and warm, I turn to you.
For the strength to be strong, for the will to carry on,
For everything you do for everything that's true I turn to you, yes.
When I lose the will to win I just reach for you and I can reach the sky again.
I can do anything, 'cause your love is so amazing,
Cause your love inspires me. And when I need a friend you're always on my side,
Givin' me faith to get me through the night.
A yawn passed Lucifer's lips as he allowed Elanye's message to be conveyed from Hoo Hoo. Where he learned she was on morning deliveries and will be running late like usual. Had him making a mental note to join her and start altering his sleeping schedule. As he made his way toward the windows of his bedroom to open and let Hoo Hoo out.
For a shield (for a shield)
From the storm (from the storm)
For a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm.
I turn to you. (I turn to you)
For the strength (for the strength)
To be strong for the will to carry on.
For everything you do I turn to you.
(Oh yeah oh)
Direction the owl went toward he knew where to find Elanye as he watched the owl soar through the air. Staying near the up window as another idea struck him, imagining what Elanye would look like flying. Dressed in an attired fit for a Queen Consort or an outfit matching his signature outfit. Maybe get it turned into a Unitard with some tights and heels. Her usual poise shining as he could see her moving over the skies of hell. Which had him sighing at the visions of what she would look like.
For the arms to be my shelter through all the rain.
For truth that will never change.
For someone to lean on.
For a heart I can rely on through anything.
For the one who I can run to
Oh yeah
(So do you oh yeah)
End up getting chills when a cool morning through opened windows he still stood before. Lost in an idea he needed to prepare before the one year mark passed for them. He ended closing his window by securing the latch to warm up a little. By reaching for his robe and slippers figuring what to do about his bout of bed head. Making his way toward vanity Elanye was slowly making her own as days passed. A post- it in Elanye's handwriting and stuck on the mirror said hello handsome. Where he found one side was already neatly filled with containers of all sorts. Usual cosmetics beside a vintage perfume atomizer and other women essentials for care for one's self. A small jewelry box now lay next to her potion box on the other side.
For a shield from the storm, for a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
(To keep me safe and warm, yeah)
I turn to you (I turn to you)
For the strength (for the strength yea)
To be strong, for the will to carry on.
For everything you do (everything you do)
For everything that's true
For everything you do
For everything that's true
I turn to you
Had him ending his song when he picked up a black jade comb Elanye bought for him. Stating her brother carved and polished out of impure stone of jade with his usual crafts. She gifted it to Lucifer during a moment of comforting him when they were just snuggling. He lifted into the air from where it rested on a lace table runner with an apple pattern. A post- it in Elanye's handwriting reminded him to brush his hair out. His song came to an end just when the strange noses ended. Which didn't stop him from getting his first guest of the early morning to his room.
"Dad?" Charlie called him from outside the apple tower's door, "You awake? You're not going to believe what I have to tell you about Wywave."
8*8
Coming up with an alternative to live music when his sister was possibly going to move out. Out Wywave pulled his saxophone from the attic of his cabin and brought it to the hotel, for Charlie's show and tell. Putting into some practice during early morning hours before the sun was due to rise. Alastor's shadowy companion and a sleepy Charlie were his only audience.
"I didn't tell anyone I could play for a handful of reasons," He tried to not fall for Charlie's puppy dog eyes, "One being how talent of any kind is exploited here."
"Is there anything else you can share for my activity?" Charlie felt like she ruined discovering he could play.
"You're like a hellcat with grunge aren't you?" He knew she wasn't giving up.
"I just don't want this discovery to go to waste on me." She fussed.
"I have a magical Zoetrope," He said, "You are fine with me sharing how my family was founded?"
Seeing her get excited over coming up with an alternative had her looking forward to what he had. Which she didn't get to lay eyes on until much later on that day when everyone was awake. She had to wait until Elayne with the requested item for her brother.
"Sorry I am late," She walked through the entrance with a mid size box, "Grandfather was his usual self."
Hoo Hoo flew pass her and into the parlor where everyone sat to take a welcomed seat by Lucifer. This box she carried when she walked toward her brother was simple decoration. Depictions of a story were found throughout all six panels. Showed a tragic love story of a human man and a mermaid with three children.
"After God cursed handful of women for interbreeding with angels in creating nephilim," Wywave opens the box to pull out a Zoetrope, "A village out of greed would hunt and harvest merfolk and nephilim to butcher them for their flesh and cry them dry."
He placed Zoetrope down beside the box and spun it to bring to life the story of a mortal man. He was the youngest son of the village's head with a kind heart that kept him from killing. Unable to take the life of a young mermaid after her sisters were forcibly netted. Instead showed favor to her when she was pulled from the water for tears harvesting. In a shallow tank she was stored when not tortured into crying purple pearls. One that looked after her was a kind human that slowly captured her heart. Resulted in three children born from their secret union gifts from their mother. First was song, second was magic, and third was heart as they grew into fine people.
"Just greed reared it ugly head and mermaid's time was up," Wywave's voice filled with sorrow, "Her sons were slaughtered when they tried to protect their mother. Leaving her to die for profit as her daughter and husband were left to live out their days."
Images of the mermaid losing her sons and then her life without fighting back was shown. Didn't lash out at the humans that raised their spears to her as pearls fell. Her countless tears littered the floor with her last thoughts being her daughter and husband. Wishing them a long life before hers ended for profit in the end.
"Daughter went on to carry the line by marrying a nameless male nephilim. While her father … " Wywave had to stop when Elanye demonstrating mermaid's last gift.
Purple pearls fell to the ground as the Zoetrope stopped spinning and left everyone in a state. Ones left in tears were Angel Dust, Charlie and Niffty with words unable to be expressed. Husk and Vaggie were their shoulders to cry on and comfort them. Alastor was processing what he saw Kee Kee and Razzle curled around a sadden Frazzle. Lucifer left his tophat behind when he made his way over to Elanye.
"Your highness," Wywave stepped aside, "Careful."
Lost in the downheartedness of her family's origin story always got the best of Elanye and made unaware. When her hood was pushed back to reveal clouded eyes by gloved hands. A single finger brushed against her face until her cheek was soothingly coddled.
"Never knew your tears could be so beautiful" He used his tail to pick up a single pearl, "Give it a good polishing to remove these scratches to bring back the luster and we got ourselves a fine piece."
"A chance was never given to create them." Her tears dried up.
"Maybe every now and then?" He asked, waving his tail around.
"May you use your tail more often?" She asked, "I'd like to wrap it around my waist when we sleep together."
Being reminded of how his tail would always be found coiled around one of her limbs or waist. Recalling how she gently stroked hairs of his tail during those private times. Starting where the skin turned to turfs of fur at the base of his spine to further up. Had his returning the favor in the present when he moved his thumb to her bottom lip.
"Thank you for the past few weeks." He noticed small things she did.
"More of your daughter's idea out of concern," Elanye explained, "You have an amazing child."
Wywave agreed when he was careful in putting the Zoetrope back into its box to return to their grandfather. Stating that Charlie made a simple request with a few points that got him interested. First was her father needing to know they were people around that cared and respected him. Ones that showed up and kept him company were those handfuls. Second was him not getting proper exercise when held up in one room. Trying to keep him at least mentally stimulated with chit chat was enough. Third was strengthening already existing bonds that were facial or budding friendships. Came in full with people that also brought him meals or small gifts to him.
"I never knew wooden duck decoys existed," Lucifer addressed Wywave's gift to him, "What species did you model him after?"
"Presbyornis pervetus." He stated.
"I insisted you teach me how to craft these." He insisted.
"By hand?" He asked, "When you can conjure up one … "
Adam was the one that stepped up and whispered something into Wywave's ear before an argument started. Left Wywave to look toward Adam with a 'no shit' expression looking at him. Got Adam to share how far back Lucifer's duck obsessed dated back.
"We'll need to sort out the details before anything happens," Wywave stated, "We'll need a place to work and I need to know your skill set."
"I insist you also play your saxophone more often," Lucifer pointed out, "I never heard such crystal clear tone and each note had emotion."
"Like old days?" Adam sounded rather happy about that.
Wywave would end up saying yes since Alastor and Husk insisted on hearing more of his playing. He couldn't take Angel Dust and Niffty describing how they felt during his playing. Being purely electrified while Vaggie was left heartfully delighted. Adam was reminded of old jam sessions Eve, Lilith, Angel Lucifer, and himself used to have.
"Please tell he's talking about those times you told me about," Charlie asked her father for clarification, "I would love to watch that."
"I would love to broadcast that," Alastor liked the idea, "This would make Vox eat his own cables."
They would have gone on, if Elanye hadn't remembered who she left sitting at the front desk area. She would have excused herself to handle this personally, if Lucifer and Charlie weren't there. Since they ended up walking over to the reception area to come face to face. The other nephew they were told about looked like a teen version of Wywave. Just his hair was Elanye's color in a half braid/ half ponytail with a gemstone hair clip. Matching waistcoat and trousers with the same hand embroidered stitch. A crimson carnation in a scrolling pattern down the sides. Button down, white shirt with a criss- cross tie with a jewled pin. His footwear peeked out from under his trousers' leg in one and half inch heel. He wore gloves and held a red hooded capelet similar to what Elayne wore.
"Lucifer. Charlie," She stood between the three, "I would like you to meet Corbin Bloodmarch."
"He's like a little Wywave," Charlie whispered to her dad, "So cute."
"Uh … been a long time since I came face to face with a … " Lucifer didn't know what time to call Corbin, " … nice boots."
"Grandfather made them for me," Corbin answered, "I like yours also."
8*8
