Stripped Night:
Hepzibah ended up taking Micheal to one of her favorite places in hell after their morning jog. First place she took him was a public aquarium in the Envy Ring to look at marine life. Mostly prehistoric ocean life in phantom form behind warded glass. After a ticket fee was paid with a free map given to them to look around. They spent all morning until lunch walking around the waterless tanks. Second place was a cat cafe in sloth ring around brunch time. Their small collection of hellish looking black cats took up. Gained Micheal's attention between cups of tea and mini lemon tarts. Third was a bar in the wrath ring that lets you throw axes at painted targets. Hotel's residents tagged along with them for endless drinks. Between rounds of drinks and being allowed to throw a bladed weapon, fun happened.
Just the morning after wasn't very welcoming to Micheal when he was hungover in the worst way. Sluggish manner in which he found himself when he joined everyone. Had him greeting everyone in the dining area for breakfast that morning.
"Luce, how much did we drink last night?" Micheal asked Lucifer with a throbbing head as he tried to block out the light.
"More than your use for sure." Lucifer mumbled back just as hungover as him.
Two go into conversation about what they could remember from last night as Hepzibah joined them. She placed two cups of plain ginger tea that were put down for them. In between them were capsules that held finely ground Nux vomica.
"Tea is to help nausea and vomiting," Hepzibah advised them, "Nux vomica is my family's hangover cure."
Micheal in his dazed state noticed bandages over Hepzibah's fingers when he saw her handS. Stayed with him long after he recovered from his hangover and sat with Joan. He barely looked over the report she typed up on a borrowed typewriter. Approving what she was going to send to Heaven ahead of time. All that was a pen for his signature on the bottom that came from Hepzibah. She placed a bottle of ink and a glass pen from the reception desk. Where Micheal saw more of her hands covered in fresh bandages.
"Something wrong?" Hepzibah asked Micheal when he saw her hands.
She followed his line of sight to her fingers and excused herself to fetch something in the reception area. Where she pulled out a sewing basket and an embroidered hoop. She carried back over to them in the parlor area in a hesitant manner.
"I am trying to improve my embroidery." She sets the sewing basket and an embroidered hoop down.
Sigils that littered a piece of cloth came in different colored threads from what Micheal saw. Each one had to do with defensive or offensive magic mixed with illusions.
"I asked my aunt to help me." She pointed out.
"You're not very good," Joan figured, "Even …"
Micheal handed the report over to her in a dismissive manner with his signature on it. She accepted and ended up walking away from him to send the report.
"Why does she even work for you?" Hepzibah asked him.
"Her background and she's the only one that keeps up with me." Micheal stated.
"I don't like her," Hepzibah clearly stated, "She needs an attitude adjustment."
Micheal ended up laughing at what she had to say while getting up from his seat. Asking her for a water basin and other supplies to be brought to them for her fingers. Which was granted by a pair of ears that overheard them interacting. Personally dropped everything off to them as Micheal unwrapped Hepzibah's fingers.
"You ok?" Elanye asked, watching them.
"Just going to help your niece with her fingers." Micheal was careful with Hepzibah's fingers.
Had her telling them not to do what Lucifer and her wouldn't do when she left them alone. He did from preparing a soaking solution to lessen swelling and help the healing process. Advising her to look into using a thimble or special craft glove to protect her fingers. Separately looking at each finger after they soaked.
8*8
Micheal surprised Hepzibah with a wooden thimble he whittled for her from a chuck of wood. Wywave allowed him to use his tools and supplied the wood for him.
"Don't want you to prick your fingers." Micheal defensively addressed her.
"Here," She hands him an embroidered pocket square, "It may not be perfect like what my aunt would make, but I hope you like it."
Charlie came bouncing toward the parlor to review with her uncle over the week's progress. Baxter wasn't behind with his usual list of compliments to share. Vaggie ended up handling Baxter for Hepzibah by informing him about the compliment box.
"Uncle M," Charlie made her way toward Michael, "How are you doing? Dad and you really tied one on."
"Better thanks to Miss. Hepzibah." He pointed out.
"You two have been cozy of late," Charlie recalled, "Should I start making plans?"
He went on to tell Charlie that what was happening was a private manner he was dealing with. One that was making him come to terms about feeling vulnerable. He found himself opening up to Hepizebah when alone with her. Had him learning how good of a listener she was whenever he just pointlessly ranted. He was allowing her to touch him when he allowed her to sit near. All the places she showed him when they stepped out of the hotel. Showed something was happening slowly between them with welcoming results.
"Are you ok?" Michael recalled how much Charlie drank.
"Trying to keep up with you and dad was a BIG old no." Charlie still felt the sting.
"Then Princess, go get some coffee and come back with your dad for us to discuss heaven's update." Micheal had Joan show Charlie what was sent.
She happily ended up hugging him over the news he came to share with her as she squealed. He ended up wrapping an arm around her to return the one sided hug. Joan stood by the reception area where Hepzibah was sorting mail.
"Go bother someone else." Hepzibah acknowledged Joan without looking at her.
"I am just waiting for Sir Micheal and Princess Charlotte to finish." She pointed out them hugging.
"They can take all the time in the world," Hepzibah didn't care, "They are family of course."
"Aren't you family also since your aunt mothered heirs?" Joan pointed out.
Hepzibah went on to ignore Joan's comments about her being family through unofficial marriage. Pressing her lips tightly together when she turned toward Joan.
"These came for Sir Micheal and you," Hepzibah slid a few envelopes to her, "They look official."
"Thanks." Joan accepted them.
"Charlie," Hepzibah called to her, "Mail call."
She quickly would hand Charlie her usual stack of envelopes and fold over fliers or two. Stating she made a fresh pot of her aunt's coffee at the beverage station. Which excited Charlie since Elanye's coffee blends were more seasoned. She ran off to get what was left since anything Elanye made always went quickly. Leaving Hepzibah to work on sorting everyone else's mail. Catching glimpses of Joan beside Micheal until a sight caught her eyes.
"Everything ok?" Elanye asked her.
"Peachy," Hepzibah whispered, "Just not liking a certain assistant."
"Getting along with people is tricky," Elanye understood who Hepzibah spoke of, "Give it time."
"I am already dead." Hepzibah reminded her.
All she could do was huff while handing her aunt her mail and newsprint before picking up her embroidery. She made sure to use the wooden thimble Micheal gifted her as she started. Taking in how it perfectly fit on her thumb when she slipped it on. Feeling of inadequacy about her pocket square compared to this thimble. Her mood slowly began to sour until the sight of a walking stick caught her eyes.
"How's one of my favorite girls?" Lucifer noticed a twinkle falling out of her eyes.
"Just my insecurities surfacing," She confessed, "I … "
She was quieted when across the surface of the desk a gloved hand reached for her hands. Which he grasped to ease the slight trembling of her clasp hands. Stopped when he slowly held her hands in those passing seconds as Micheal saw.
"Sir?" Joan noticed him pausing, "Is everything ok?l
"What did you discuss with Hepzibah?" Micheal asked with anger rising in his voice.
8*8
Micheal found Hepzibah with her panther out on the balcony that very night with a record player. When she reached out to pull up the headshell when he reached the door. He pushed open despite the chilly night air that greeted him. Making his way directly to Hepzibah when sight of her huddled up in her cardigan. Finding him opening his wings wide enough when he sat down.
"Hey." He simply greeted her.
He ended up blocking the cold by surrounding her with his wings when he sat down by her. Not knowing where to start with her as her leopard nuzzled her side. Gentle pur that came from her had Hepzibah reaching out to Micheal's wing. Her fingers stopped inches from those soft surfaces of his feathers.
"It's alright," He found himself allowing her, "Since your company has been comforting one."
He didn't know how to put the honest kindness she put in when she was always there. From the first time they were introduced to nights on this balcony just chatting. Sharing a stolen bottle of red wine or scotch from Husk's bar. Something he didn't want to lose as the foundation of what was forming between them.
"Whatever Joan said or did," He was still quite angry over that, "Isn't changing anything."
" … can we stay like this for a few more minutes?" She asked.
Despite being in briefs and a tank with a pair of night slippers being the only thing he was wearing. Left him unable to object to her when he felt her recline her head on his shoulder. Somehow he was unable to pull away or reject her when she seemed to so blue.
"Then before we head in?" He asked back, "I kinda want to hear about these simulated fights you guys have."
"Zon is brutal." She whined.
Her leopard ended up encouraging he changed his position from Hepzibah to curl around Micheal. Further pushing him near Hepzibah at the same time warming his chilled body with his body heat.
"Go," Hepzibah figured Micheal had to be cold, "I'll be here when you get back."
"We're?" Micheal asked looking to her.
"I dislike your assistant," She shared, "That enough."
Micheal shortly left her to dress in a pair of sweats before quickly returning to a cheerier Hepzibah and her leopard. Taking his usual seat next to her under watchful eyes of her aunt from far away. She was watching them from the apple tower wrapped in her shawl with a smile on. Sleeping Lucifer laying on her lap with a duckie plushie tightly hugged to his chest. Hoo Hoo was curled up with a snake near the more warmer parts of the apple tower where the twins slept.
"Who knew." Elanye like what was happening.