Wet Truth:
Charlie thought a new activity in the form of puzzles together would be fun. She gave everyone choices from solving image puzzles to assembling a 100 piece jigsaw. A few brain teasers were thrown in to keep everyone on their toes.
"I am stumped," Angel Dust gave up when trying to separate a set of rings, "I'll french you if you help me."
"Thought we already do that after hours." Husk took over.
Corbin was sitting upside down quickly putting together a wooden cube. Osmodai was timing him as he just put random pieces together. Not putting much effort into the shape that was forming when he tossed the piece toward startled Hephzibah and Octavia.
"Time?" Octavia dares asked.
"Just over the 9 mins 58.32 sec mark by a half," Osmodai showed her, "What's bothering you this time?"
"Angel Dust," Corbin addressed him, "That isn't the type of motivation you're supposed to be using."
"She didn't say anything about how we solve these." Angel Dust had him there.
Hephzibah tried to not laugh at the answer given when Laika rested his head on her lap. Kee kee just adjusted how she was curled up with an unnamed leopard with Chewy. Razzle was too busy trying to solve a standard rubix cube. Mirabelle was little to no help in solving a complete side.
"He's right on that one." Serenity agreed.
She tossed a baked treat from a basic wooden puzzle box Constantine solved without much effort. Into her mouth, coming to agree with what Angel Dust said. Charlie didn't say anything about how they could solve the puzzle. Use clear communication skills to convey to someone else. How they went about doing it was never told by her in the beginning.
"Doesn't mean we want to know how he goes about getting help." Corbin watched Angel Dust stick his tongue out.
Mirabelle got her eyes covered by Octavia when Angel Dust rolled his tongue in a licking motion. Had Osmodai instantly return the energy with bedroom eyes and teasing manner. Angling her head upon turning toward them and winked with o- shaped on her lips. Threw Husk off from separating the rings with Angel Dust left impressed.
"Forgot," Hephzibah picked up the rubix cube from Razzle, "She was the daughter of Asmodeus for a second."
Ended up solving the first side to give the puzzle back to Razzle when Octavia uncovered Mirabelle's eyes. Short lived when Baxter gloated about his third puzzle being solved. Stating everyone's childish antics and Niffty bothering him didn't distract him. Which made the mood in the room turn sour quickly and all go quiet.
"Butt head." Mirabelle called Baxter.
"A child of royal blood shouldn't be speaking in such a manner." Baxter corrected Mirabelle.
"I am not allowed to use cruss language until I turn 18," Mirabelle infomed Baxter, "You're a whiffet butt head."
"Excuse me?" Baxter squealed, "I have a name."
"Why should she use it? Go ahead and further dampen what is left of the friendly mood," Constantine answered for his niece, "Carry on since I would like to know."
Octavia blinked while Hephzibah gave a high five to Corbin and Osmodai with kee kee rolled her eye. Angel Dust took a picture of Baxter's expression and Husk tried to not yell burn. Serenity was rather pleased at how the activity progressed until Lucifer happily cheered. Alastor and he had been forced to put together 100 piece ducks on a pond puzzle. Finally placing the last piece down without getting distracted. Which was a proud moment without the two breaking out into a fight.
"How is everyone going?" Elanye asked.
Clicking on her mini cinnamon roll pumps with three and half inch heels announced her to everyone. She was carrying a pitcher of sage- blackberry juice she freshly squeezed. Slices of Pinot citrus could be seen floating within the violet liquid.
"We're getting along," Charlie didn't know how to describe the atmosphere, "Butting heads as we go on."
"Sounds like Muun picking a fight with Hephzibah's leopard, " Elanye placed the pitcher on the coffee table, "Never ends well."
Down went the pitcher near to a plate of angel shaped cookies she long since baked for them. Lucifer was one of the more recognizable along with Zon and his daughter. Frosted in white icing with candy accessories for much smaller details of their outfits.
"I would love to hear that little tidbit." Alastor had to hear the story.
"Really?" Corbin couldn't understand, "It's a miniature goat with a height complex picking a fight with a leopard."
"Gets funny," Hephzibah further pointed out, "Since the plant beasts and Cornelius don't deem him a threat they don't care."
Before Elanye spun her usual storytelling of everyday life, she's done for six years. Soft patter of raindrops was heard on the outer walls of the hotel as a light drizzle. Vagggie went on to turn on the 666 news to get a weather report. Found out the PH level was a tad higher than usual 4.0 when reported.
"Not how I saw our day going," Octavia and Corbin would see Osmodai off, "Tell the others off for us."
"Call me once this lets up?" Osmodai responded before leaving.
"Well?" Elanye asked Constantine and Serenity, "Willing to take the risk to travel or stay the night? Since it's Antonty's turn to cook for us, I am staying up late to practice the natural energy of flora."
8*8
Top floor of the hotel had a view of the glass ceiling with snake and apple emblems carved into the glass. Some silhouettes that depicted the story of hell were found throughout. Parts of stories that spoke of Lilith and Lucifer having two blessings of their own. One carried the fury of a dragon and the other burned as bright as a nova. A view that greeted Elanye when she sat in the center of the grand space. Her legs and knees are both positioned to the side and back, in the same direction. Dressed in a spider silk, dark crimson, thinly strapped, frontal double slit nightgown. Her hair loosely braided, held by a clasp and laying on her shoulder. Eyes closed without a single noise except one filling a dimly lit area.
Fall of the rain on a glass ceiling
White orbs of all sizes gave off their own light and formed a ring around her. Natural light that poured in alongside the night sky of hell was a sight she always welcomed, on rainy nights. Never changed no matter the ring or clearing in the forest with her brother's cabin.
"When I see you,
Your eyes sparkle like the brightest star in the darkest sky.
When I see you,
Surrounded by a string of pearls with an illuminating quality.
When I see you,
My heart skips a beat, and I don't know what to say." A voice spoke of her in the middle of the room.
"You smile when my eyes,
Meet yours.
Which is often.
I glance around and there,
You are.
Staring me down.
I laugh and smile back," She answers while listening to his footsteps.
She knew he would come looking for her, unable to sleep after getting used to snuggling with her. Six years worth of developing the habit that started out as an insomniac moment for him. Into his bed she joined him upon request with a lullaby on her lips. Put him into a state of sleep he hadn't experienced in decades as he held her close. She didn't fight back while learning the next morning from Lucifer and Charlie. About a duckie plushie he hugged in the form of childhood stories.
"Couldn't sleep?" She asked the shadows, "I left a note, so I wouldn't wake you."
"Found," He spoke of the piece of paper, "View is nothing different from my castle."
"I'd say otherwise." She pats an empty space next to her.
He knew debating the view of all of the rain wasn't different despite the location after six years. Against her would last until morning or a visual experience through their bond. One he was too groggy to carry on when unable to return to a slumbering state. Since Elanye's end of their bond was strangely calm and quiet without usual noise. Went to the hotel he knew she would get the best view of the rain. Coming to join her once he secured the knot of his dressing gown's slash as he came to sit. His tail curled around her as he got close enough to inhale her scent, or her rest head on his shoulder.
He only noticed her lap on the other side of her was occupied by a head belonging to a sleeping Corbin. Which rested on her lap as he was blanketed with her shawl for warmth. Dressed in his nightwear and slippers with pencil in one of his hands. Half closed mini backpack lying with papers in plastic sheetings in between the two of them. Drew his attention as Elanye reached out to brush aside a strand of his hair.
"He joined me wanting help on an essay for one of his classes," She explained her nephew's presence, "Fell asleep to the sound of the rain."
"May I?" He asked about the essay.
"Still the mentor?" She replied.
She knew over six years of instructing Corbin and Octavia formed a bond that neither shaken off. One that followed one when he entered college after early graduation from high school. She ended up picking up her nephew's essay to fulfill Constantine's request.
"Just curiosity." Constantine accepted the essay as he conjured his glasses.
"All those times you inquired about him?" She spoke of six years worth of memories.
To Corbin's time with the remaining sins to when he taught himself how to play two instruments. Constantine was somewhere in the path just observing his former pupil. Taking a personal day to visit a spa in the sloth ring with his family. Getting over his personal discomfort with the wrath ring, twice. Wandering what grimoires he came across from forgotten corners of hell. Acquiring a personal recordingS of him playing his instruments.
"Nothing wrong with wanting to stay informed." Constantine started reading.
"I met the hellhound you had Serenity assigned to keep tabs on him," Elanye reminded him, "He's a sweet pudge named Blimpy with hanging tongue syndrome."
"Should have been more clear on the guidelines." He figured she had noticed.
"Just admit it," She teased, "You miss having young minds around to nurture."
"You make me sound like a father." He pointed out.
"I could, but you are nowhere like his biological father … since I met Kyle." She looks up with a smirk, "Former army private in MIC turned law enforcement officer for NPS. Also a weak psychic with a female dire wolf named Vones as his animal guide."
"Explains a few things about him." Constantine knew Corbin had more to him.
Elanye reached up with one of her hands to barely touch the side of his stubble clad face. Tracing his jawline with her fingers to get him to allow her to place a simple kiss on his cheek. An action he started allowing her to do when it was just two of them. This time Serenity wasn't the one pointing out black kiss mark in candy apple black. She ended up joining them upon finding them hobbled together.
"What do we have here?" Serenity sat down a foot and half away from them.
"Helping my nephew with his essay." Elanye pointed out.
"His arguments need more strengthening and maybe one more interview," Constantine pointed out what he found so far, "A bit more polishing."
"May I help?" Serenity offered, "I might know someone."
Subject of Corbin's paper came up when asked how he came to write about the subject. Unpleasant story wasn't one Elanye wanted to share with them. Since in her opinion, the professor deliberately assigned this to him.
"What do you know about a demon born named Malacoda?" Elanye asked, rather bothered, "He's one of Cobin's professors that's rather particularly toward him. Who didn't let him freely choose like his other students."
Serenity offered to look into him for her for the usual payment of one potato dish. Rustling of papers in plastic sheeting being slammed down. Sensation of high magic energy crackling in the atmosphere. Constantine's tail started to shake like an angry rattlesnake on the verge of striking. Silenced her since the unspoken emotions Elanye didn't speak were mentally conveyed. Among them were Corbin's memories of a biased demon speaking details of their assignment. Who wasn't too nice to Corbin when he spoke of an essay everyone supposed to write in certain parameters. Crudely telling him to be quiet over how he treated only students more favorably.
"He's …. " Elanye asked with her lips pressed together.
"Yea." Serenity wasn't surprised, "Your … "
"Hot and bothered when he gets like this," Elanye fought the urge, "He's wearing his glasses."
Serenity could never figure how Elanye only got aroused when Constantine got protectively angry and when he wore his glasses. Stopped surprising her after the two grew closer over the six years of interacting. Whether small moments within the walls of the hotel or helping Charlie. Joint or side by side appointments with Constantine during his royal duties. Out in public of the pride ring during the day or night before demon kind. Two came together beyond their existing bond as Misfortune and Red Riding Hood.
"What else was he told?" Constantine requested further.
"You're going to have to wake him to get the answer," Elanye directed Constantine toward Corbin, "He only bothered me for help."
"He's to see me first thing tomorrow morning." Constantine firmly spoke.
"I'll tell him at first light," Elanye was going to need a moment, "Serenity. Can you take Corbin back?"
Serenity knew when Constantine noticed Elanye's breathing became labored and her chest perked up. He went quiet when she leered at him without saying a single word. His answer came through their bond in the form of image puzzles in Picasso style.
8*8
Elanye tapped a sealed jar of a preserved specimen of a baby Wyvern, rather interested. Label faded and a light layer of dust didn't stop her from wanting to get a better look.
"I have better ones in my workshop," Constantine reminded her, "Don't know why you insist on looking at that one."
"It's the scaling pattern and wing structure, " She pulled away, "You know, I have been planning you and your sister's birthday gifts."
Being reminded that Charlie around six years ago had Elaine start helping her celebrate her brother's birthday. By sharing a cake recipe Lilith always had Belvedere make for him. She reproduced with fondant decorations in a simple cake for them. Got changed up every year for them with Lucifer and Mirabelle joining in. Rekindling an old tradition he stopped celebrating that his sister never stopped.
"Making another abomination like that cannibalistic cat?" Constantine asked about Chewy.
"Hasn't he been a good friend to Maverick?" She brought up how they get along.
"Besides your owl?" Constantine looked at Hoo Hoo.
Hoo Hoo made himself none from quiet should belonging to Corbin, who was in mild shock. He wanted to confront his professor himself after handing in final form of his paper. Moral support that came wasn't one he was expecting while Charlie blew up his phone. Pm after pm from her cheering him on followed by his other friends and Blimpy.
"Why do I feel like this unofficially parent-teacher conference?" He whispered.
"You want me to noticfiy your uncles?" Elanye grew excited over the topic, "Zon and Wywave have been asking about you academics."
"