adsum | npc contact.1

[ They smile when Lucifer expresses his love for his siblings because how could they not? The fact that he can say it out loud is a testament to how close he is to his brothers, whether they're here or not. Doubly so, now, they want him to be reunited with all of them...

would that be his birthday wish?

They really wish they could grant it, if so, and if not. ]

-—another day! Today's your day! It's your birthday and— and I didn't really know what to do about a present... so I thought of what I would want the most and what I would want is to spend time with you.

[Naturally, he'd love to be reunited with his ~~gremlin~~ siblings. But he understands, and at the end of the day, not being here is probably better for literally everyone, because he doesn't doubt for a second that Mammon would steal people's PDAs and run an illegal snack gambling ring for money.

Anyway enough about that! This kid is killing him, he's actively perishing. How dare they be so precious in front of him?]

Ha! I definitely don't require a gift, but the sentiment is appreciated. Alright, what would you like to do, then? I have all day.

Um! Uh...

[ They look a bit put on the spot, since it isn't their birthday but Lucifer's and this is like their wish being granted— but if Lucifer is willing, they are absolutely not going to turn him down, shuffling closer instead and looking up at him with bright eyes. ]

I want to hear more about you and your brothers! Your favorite stories! It'll be like they're right here with us!

[ Without all the danger of being here, but it'll still feel like they're there in this room sharing in celebrating Lucifer. ]

[It's not their birthday but Lucifer is too old to care about such things anyway. The things that he considers sentimental and special aren't based in age-old traditions, not anymore anyway.]

Alright, let's sit down. Let me think for a moment...

[Shoves a bite of tiramisu into his mouth, contemplates... what tales can he tell that are appropriate for teenagers? Nothing involving Asmodeus too heavily... oh, but there's—]

Back at our, er, other school, before I came here... there was once a time we had to put on a musical for a book series that Leviathan is particularly fond of and that was, rather ironically, also written by a friend of ours. This naturally required those of us with no musical experience to learn how to sing and dance, which was the majority of it.

Mammon, being the best dancer among us, had to grill us on dance routines... I'd never known him to be such a hardass about things until the moment he was given the freedom to instruct us all in dancing. I believe if I tried it now, I could still do the splits. It's been a while.

Halfway through the production, we had a cast member not from my immediate family leave the production, and the script had to be rewritten slightly. It could have been a disaster of untold proportions had those of us remaining not re-learnt all of our lines and roles practically overnight to prepare for further rehearsals. I had to get in a sword fight with Leviathan for one of our scenes, and Levi can be... I don't want to say a bit of a pushover, since he used to be a navy admiral, but he's not quite as physically strong as I am.

[Lucifer, casually: Yeah my brother was the admiral of Hell's Navy back in the day don't worry about it.]

I wasn't trying to make it into an actual fight, but I don't skimp for realism either. Oh, and... we had to do that entire thing while singing. I've been in sword fights before, but never while dancing and singing...

[ What the heck? Yogen has gladiator battles but so what? this other school gets swordfight musicals and nothing could be cooler. There's amazement clear in their eyes but also... envy. Yearning. The want to be a part of something like that, that sounds so fantastical that it's hard to believe it's true if not for the fact that Lucifer is telling the story. ]

I wish I could see... Did you have a solo? Can you show us a dance? If you need a partner, I'm good with sticks and stuff!

I did have a solo, yes. My character was the Lord of Corruption, a man who was known for scheming and plotting in secret. I had to wear this rather ridiculous-looking costume with this enormous fur cape...

[It was, erm, definitely one of the more ostentatious things Lucifer has worn in his time. Still, it was fun, save for the moments he quite nearly tripped on the cape and faceplanted.

Smirking, Lucifer leans forward, inclining his head toward them.]

I still remember the routine somewhat. If you grabbed us some sticks from outside, I could show you the basics of sword fighting quite easily — at least, the more theatrical version.

[ That is the most Extra cape, oh my god

But!!! The prospect of learning a sworddance routine is enough to get them jumping up onto their feet. ]

I'll be right back!

[ Hell yeah hell yeah, next month the gardener is going to destroy the school because everybody keeps snapping branches off the tree ]

[At this point half the school's staff already want to kick Lucifer's ass so what's one more person on top of that.

Anyway he's been blabbing instead of eating so he'll just, you know, finish off the tiramisu while they're gone... and then maybe push some desks aside so that there's room to go teach a kid how to swordfightdance without risk of murder... (sitcom laugh track plays)]

[ It's fine, it'll be fine, this kid is so short they can't reach the higher branches where the thicker and stronger ones are, so Lucifer can watch from the window as they jump to reach the closest branch but cannot, make a half-assed attempt to scale the trunk but failing that too, and then decides to look around the base of the tree for any branches that might've fallen off and collecting two or three of those instead.

...

Five minutes later they rush back to the classroom with their handful of sticks and present them proudly to Lucifer. ]

Here you go!

[Imagine being short, haha, can't relate.

Lucifer pretends he didn't witness all of that even though he absolutely did.]

Excellent job. [And then he rifles through the stick bundle to find ones that are likely sturdy enough to use as play swords, tests one of them by waving it through the air a little bit... this will do.] Alright, use this one. Although these aren't real swords, a good rule of thumb for this is not to aim for the face. I wouldn't want either of us to lose an eye.

[Teaching a kid to do a theatrical swordfight in murder-school, what's the worst that could happen?

Lucifer is, at least, a helpful teacher. He shows them how to stand, because it's important that they don't fall off balance at any point! At several parts he'll walk over and kick their feet apart with his own if they fall out of a stronger stance. The fun part is getting to the actual "swordfighting", in which Lucifer shows them how to parry his blows (which are really just light taps with the stick) and how to make it look real.

Being involved in musical theatre for an entire semester does something to a man.]

[ Praise from senpai— ahem. They quickly collect themselves and listens intently, holding their stick loosely in one hand and correcting their footwork when prompted. They pick up his instructions easily, falling naturally in a style reminiscent of fencing more than theatrical sword fighting: lots of quick stabs and short movements and ease of handling a sword that is both light and flexible. ]

[Lucifer's so proud.

Really, time flies when you're having fun. Lucifer's strikes are a lot heavier, not quite as deft. Eventually this whole thing devolves into a grown demon and a teenager just pretending to beat each other up with sticks, the theatrics getting a bit lost in the sauce. It's the most fun he's had in a while, truth be told.

One swift strike from them barely pokes Lucifer in the stomach, but it's enough to get him to laugh. He'd failed to dodge that one, his half-step back being intercepted by one of the desks he'd pushed off to the side. For now, he's taking a break, leaning against that same desk now and putting his sword-stick down at his side.]

Have you fenced before? You seem somewhat practiced with that style. I'm surprised.

[ Whew! Hikaru's wiped out by the end of it, doing a little victory hop when they get that one successful poke in but is grateful for the time out because that means they can collapse onto the ground on their back with their arms and legs splayed out like they weren't on the verge of exhaustion the entire time but refused to give up until they're able to impress Lucifer somehow. Their muscles burn and they feel a bit lightheaded, but the adrenaline rush can't be beat. ]

Something like it! I'm not strong enough to swing anything too heavy, so I figured this would fit me best!

[They're a good kid... Lucifer reaches out to pat their hair and fluff it a bit.]

It does, I think. [Not that he's the expert on kids or humans or what size sticks/swords they should be swinging around, but.] Regardless, thank you for making this day special for me. I rarely celebrate my own birthday, [he forgets it exists also he's too old to care now] and it's been a fun day. I wouldn't want to keep you from your own family, though... it is Sunday, after all. Be safe going home.

[ Their smile drops a little at the mention of home, but... Lucifer's right. They can't stay in school forever; they have to go home. ]

I will. And you too, senpai! Let's celebrate next year too, and the next year, and the next!

npc contact.1

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