Claire had spent most of the morning rearranging things on the board but still no pattern was jumping out. She stood contemplating it, tapping a finger to her lips, when there was a soft knock on the door.
"Just a minute," she called out, pressing both hands against the side of the bookcase to push it back into place. She took a few steps back to make sure it was completely blocked, then went to open the door.
Charlie stood there with a bright smile on her face, "Hi Claire!" She greeted cheerfully, "I was wondering if you could help me out with something…special."
The way she said the last word instantly had Claire skeptical, but she kept it from her expression, "Yes, of course," she replied, "Do you mean right now?"
"No, no," Charlie held up both hands, giving them a little wave, "Just be down in the bar in like an hour, okay? And wear something nice. Er. Nicer." She hastily corrected, lest she cause offense. "Do you like roses?"
"…I do," Claire replied cautiously, "What exactly am I going to be helping with?"
"Oh, pfft," Charlie looked left and right, again waving her hands, "Nothing big. I'm just…testing a more upscale, special dining experience! And I just want everyone to look the part is all."
Claire studied Charlie's very suspicious face a moment then shrugged, "Sure, that sounds—"
"Great!" Charlie didn't let her finish, bouncing on her toes excitedly and speaking so quickly it was almost hard to follow, "So, I will see you in an hour, downstairs, at the bar, maybedosomethingwithyourhairbutonlyifyoufeellikeit! Okay gotta go prepare! Bye!"
She disappeared seconds after, nearly sprinting down the hall and leaving Claire still parsing everything that was said. "…that was weird," Claire said with a shake of her head, closing the door behind her.
A little after an hour later, Claire stepped into the bar and stopped just over the threshold. It had been transformed from its usual cozy but formal atmosphere and now was…full of plants. Big, leafy plants stuck into large terracotta pots everywhere, obscuring the view of most of the room. Little lights had been set up to give the greenery a dreamy, twinkling appearance.
"This is new," Claire stated appraisingly, still looking around as Charlie appeared in front of her, carrying a tall, thin menu.
"Madame," she said with a little bow, holding the menu to her chest, "you look nice!"
Claire smoothed down the front of her full, black skirt. This dress wasn't really her style, while the straight front showed barely any cleavage, the thin straps left her shoulders almost completely exposed. At least the skirt was long. "Thanks for sending it up. I didn't really have anything fancy to wear," she replied.
"Oh, it was nothing," Charlie said, flapping her hand then gesturing for Claire to follow, "Your seat is right this way!"
A few of the round tables had been pulled into a line in front of the stage, all covered with pristine white tablecloths and set with sparkling golden plates. All of them were empty except for one and Claire blinked in surprise when she saw who was sitting there.
"Alastor?" She asked, pausing when Charlie did by the table, "You got roped into this too?"
Alastor pulled his attention away from the stage and gave her a critical onceover, "Well," he drawled, "Aren't you all dolled up."
Charlie pulled out the only other chair at that table and gestured for Claire to sit, which she did, "I was told to dress up," she said with a touch of annoyance as Charlie primly unfolded a napkin and set it on Claire's lap, "Weren't you?"
"Some of us don't succumb to peer pressure," Alastor grinned.
Claire gave him an annoyed look, but decided to let it slide for the moment, "There's a lot of vegetation in here," she said conversationally, looking around and pushing the branch of a wide leafed tree away from her.
Suddenly there were the sounds of muffled arguing from behind the stage curtain. "DAD! You said you'd do this for me!" Charlie could be heard whining.
"I hadn't noticed," Alastor replied to Claire, watching the stage with a predatory, expectant gaze.
With a loud groan of protest, Lucifer stomped out from behind the curtain carrying his golden violin in one clenched hand and the bow in another. He stopped in the center of the stage, clearing his throat and bringing the violin up to his chin, "Ahem."
"Seems we're being treated to some mediocre music," Alastor commented mildly.
"Grrrr," Lucifer growled, not looking at the occupied table and with a scowl, brought the bow to the strings.
As the first notes of melodious music rang out, a slightly frazzled Charlie appeared once again at the table, "Sir," she said to Alastor, barely containing her glee, "You might notice there is a rose in front of you." She pointed to the red rose laying across his golden plate.
"Why so there is," Alastor agreed, lifting it from the plate and watching with a wide grin as it wilted and faded between his sharp fingers in a heartbeat. "How lovely."
Charlie blinked, then looked horrified, "That was—uh—that was not I mean—" she stammered, clearly panicked as Alastor threw the dead rose over his shoulder carelessly, "I'll be right back!" she promised as she raced towards the back.
Claire watched her go, looked to the stage, then back to Alastor, "This is weird, right?" she asked.
Alastor shrugged, most of his malicious attention on the stage, "Seems like a regular evening to me."
"Really." Claire said rather than asked, voice flat. She glanced over at the other tables, all of them meticulously set, just like theirs had been. The only thing missing was the rose. Though, she supposed, now their tables matched all the rest. Except for what appeared to be a little sign made of cardboard propped up against the glass that housed the little lit candle. She couldn't see what it said from where she was sitting since the letters faced the stage, so she reached over, picked it up, and flipped it around to read it. "Oh no."
"Hmm?" Alastor didn't look at her, too amused by the scowling Lucifer on stage.
Claire flipped the sign towards him, 'The Garden of Eden' written in flowing, golden script that sparkled from all the glitter whoever had written it had used. "We're being parent trapped."
"We're being what now?" Alastor looked towards her now, brows raising quizzically.
"Sometimes I forget you're older than anything fun," Claire replied sourly, dropping the sign onto her plate, "It's a setup. This is a date."
Alastor waved a hand dismissively, "I don't see how," he glanced back at the stage and then said in an antagonistic tone, "I'd never patronize an establishment with such dreadful taste in musical acts."
The music abruptly stopped. "Why you—" Lucifer snapped, starting towards the edge of the stage.
"Okay, that's enough from everyone," Claire said, standing up in one smooth motion and getting between them. "Charlie? Charlie!" She called out.
Charlie poked her head out from the back and then rounded the corner with trepidation and her arms full of long-stemmed roses, "Sorry I was just grabbing more—" she looked at her father, fuming on stage, Claire standing in front of Alastor, and Alastor still seated and smiling as if nothing was happening. "…is something wrong?"
Claire reached over to pick up the sign from the table and held it up, "Charlie. What is all this?"
Charlie's cheeks flushed and the roses dropped to a pile at her feet. She twisted her fingers together nervously as she replied, "I thought the perfect, romantic night might help you two feel more comfortable telling us that you were, you know. Together. And then we could be one big happy all-in-the-open family!
"Well, the music certainly—"
Claire shot Alastor a look, "Stop helping." She looked back to Charlie and sighed, "Charlie, I know you mean well, but our personal lives are none of your business. If we wanted to share something with you, we would."
She paused and then quickly added, "…that makes it sound like there's a 'we' and let me be clear: there is not." She gestured to the seated radio demon, "Alastor and I are just very good friends. That's it."
Charlie glanced between them entirely confused, "But—I thought—Vaggie heard you two—you know—" she made some obscene hand gestures and Lucifer blanched then gagged from the stage.
Trying not to look or sound annoyed, Claire took a breath, then Charlie's hands to stop that, "I am happy to be your fun Aunt who's always there with ice cream ready to listen, while Alastor is like your crazy Uncle with problematic views everyone ignores to keep the peace—"
"The Great Crash didn't happen until women had the right to vote, it's just a fact," Alastor commented idly, looking at his nails.
Claire continued as if he hadn't interjected, "…but I think there might be a little projection happening here. I don't think this is meant for us." She gave a significant look to Lucifer, who was glaring with open hostility at Alastor, her gaze sliding down to the wedding ring he always wore. "Not really."
Charlie followed her gaze, eyes widening as realization dawned and mortification set in, "I am soooo sorry! I entirely misread the situation! How about…just a friendly dinner?" She let go of Claire's hands and rushed around to pull her seat back, "No romance. I promise."
All eyes turned to Claire who made a show of considering long enough Charlie started to look nervous again. "Sounds great," she said finally, moving over to sit and giving Charlie a smile.
"Can I go back to my office now?" Lucifer asked with annoyance.
The meal was simple but delicious. Leaving Niffty in charge of the kitchen wasn't the bad idea it always seemed. Lucifer went back to whatever it was he did, while Charlie kept her promise to keep things non-romantic and even packed up leftovers for Claire to take up to the hellcrows afterwards. The box felt pretty hefty as she walked down the hallway with Alastor.
"Well, that could've been more awkward," she commented as they climbed the stairs towards the roof.
He gave her a sidelong look, "So we're really good friends now hmmm?"
"I might've tacked on the 'very' to make a point," she replied casually, stepping back as he opened the door. "You do keep defacing my menus."
"First I'm hearing of it," Alastor replied mildly, holding the door open as she stepped through before following after her.
Claire turned around with a grin and pointed a finger at his chest, "You can play aloof all you want, old man, but you and I both know—"
"CLAIRE!"
She started as someone shouted her name, turning in surprise towards the sound, "Hades?!" she rushed toward the ledge so she could be there when he landed, "What's wrong?"
"We found her! The missing person!" Hades panted, fanning out his wings and giving them a little shake, "Dead but—you're gonna want to see this!"
"I knew you guys could do it!" Claire beamed, giving his back a quick scratch, "I'll meet you outside in just a minute, okay?"
"Claire," Alastor asked, accusatory gaze sliding from the hellcrow to her, "Why is that scavenger talking?"
Hades looked between them, then shrugged and lifted off, flying away as fast as he possibly could. "That was Hades, he lives here with his brothers," Claire replied, walking backwards away from him and towards the stairs, "you won't like the rest, so I'll explain later!"
She turned then and sprinted for the door to avoid both the lecture and any magical means he might send after her to require more of a response than, "Gotta go!" she called back and was already halfway down the stairs when the door slammed behind her.