For rockandrollvampire

[hesperussword]

Anyone looking for Beelzebub wouldn't have trouble finding him. He was becoming known in the Nexus, especially in the dive bars and local pubs where his presence meant the place might make a fortune from running out of booze, even if the cost was a bar fight or some other rowdy happenings before the night was through. Over turned police cars, spontaneous parties, and things even more debaucherous when his brother were around, were the hallmark of his presence.

It was still early in the night. Beelzebub was in one of his favorite dives because it tended to have patrons interested in light hearted drinking games and occasional gambling. This place also had a wide variety of hard liquors; local and from around the multiverse, which made it all the more appealing. Never too loud with music or blinding with lights it was on the dingy side which suited him just as well.

He had found himself in a corner high table, pretty much his table in this place up on a bar stool which was the only practical bar seating for an angel with huge wings. He's beneath a pale yellow light. A pitcher and small ceramic cup on the table where he sat reading, of all things. He was deeply involved in a celestial text, stolen from heaven, about warding systems for purification and not paying much attention to his surroundings.

Comments

[rockandrollvampire]

Dive bars, being what they are and Toby being what he is, are a favored place to be when the vampire is out for his nightly drink. There's less frequent questions, more options for the very casual one night stand, and, when the occasion calls for it, a willing meal that can't be ordered off a menu. Add in an invitation from Lucifer to seek out someone who's whole thing is to rile others up with drinking and some violence? Of course he's going to search out for whatever bar Beelzebub is at. Tell a vampire that trouble on two legs drinks heavily and will encourage the same in you, and... well, he's bound to show up as soon as he can.

By the time he finally makes it to the bar where the fallen angel is camped out, Toby's ready to give up and sit down with a drink before he starts up the search again. As he waits by the bar for a whiskey, he takes a look around the place to get a good feel for it. The scent of sulfur and cedar in the air are unexpected, but when his eyes fall on the angel in the corner, book in front of him and wings tucked in behind, it starts to make sense. Something feels just slightly off as the vampire looks Beelzebub over, though that's hardly a deterrent right now.

Toby's lips twitch into a grin as he accepts his drink from the bartender and then makes his way over to the angel. He ignores the sudden feeling of 'oh shit' happening somewhere in his stomach (Lucifer totally could have understated things about Beelzebub, but there's no turning back now!) and grabs the nearest unoccupied stool, dragging it over noisily to make sure he has the man's attention as he approaches.

"I come bearing my own seat - mind if I join you?"

Starting things with angels has so far only turned out well for Toby, given his relationship with Aziraphale and Crowley. He's really hoping his track record holds.

[hesperussword]

Beelzebub looks up at the grating sound of the sliding stool. Instantly a scowl appears, not because of the company, but the sound of metal scraping on floor. The angel laughs at the man before him, nose crinkling at the slight smell of death. He's war so it doesn't bother him but he's not used to undead wandering around, aside from his own horse.

"Do I have a choice now that you've dragged a stool over?" He's a little abrasive but it has a friendly enough quality to it. It's mostly the mischievous and inviting grin that cues in the teasing in the question. He closes the book to set it to the side now that he has company that made themselves at home.

[rockandrollvampire]

Toby grins right back at the man as he plops down on his stool and leans an elbow on the table. "Well you could say no, seeing as I'm interrupting you." He points toward the pushed aside book with his drink before he takes a sip. "But that's hardly any fun. Drinking with new friends is always better, yeah?"

Okay, no, that's totally not true and Toby has been on the very bad side of that in recent months, but once you've been screwed over by the Joker it can't much worse. Right? God he hopes so.

"Name's Tobias, by the by," he offers once he's settled properly on his seat. "What can I get you to drink? I'd wager you like--" Toby pauses suddenly, inhaling an unnecessary breath through his nose to get a hint of some sort off the angel sitting across the table from him. Much to his surprise (and dismay, really), there's too many competing smells for him to choose from. Beelzebub somehow smells like an entire bar as they sit inside one. "...maybe no wager since I can't guess, but first round's still on me."

[hesperussword]

"Possibly." He's suspicious but not unfriendly.

"Lord Beelzebub." He's watching the other man carefully, but the grin is spreading and turning proud. In general, the alcohol covered many things, burning senses and keeping information to himself. It wasn't something that he tried to do but a benefit of his sins. If you were gluttonous enough with your booze it was like a smoke screen.

Beelzebub placed the empty shot glass he had in front of Tobias and poured a shot of something that had a pleasantly soft pink-red color. Sweet of smell like a dessert wine with a hint of sour, definitely apple based. This was angelic brandy made by Lucifer and something the angel mingled with all his other drinking. Truth was the amount of human strength booze needed to get drunk was egregious. This pared down the amount needed to drink. Lucifer's particular apple brandy would set a human on their backside after a large swig. For an immortal, a shot glass would take them right to tipsy with warmly sweet apple flavor and a bit of after burn. In truth, it was a test to see how much liquor this immortal could take.

Once the shot glass was full Beelzebub poured himself a pint beer glass of the same from the pitcher. He was intent on shooting this just like a shot. If he was going to get drunk with someone, they were going to get drunk.

"I'll cover the first. If you can still make it to the bar, you can get the second." He's a bit haughty but more like an arrogant older brother than a jerk.

[rockandrollvampire]

A small shiver crawls up Toby's spine as Beelzebub offers his name. Even knowing who he was going to meet doesn't make the introduction less thrilling. This is playing with some serious fire - possibly literally, if things go sideways - but unless he says 'yes' to the trouble here, he's far better off trying something stupid in the Nexus than he is back in his corner of London.

Still make it to the bar? Now that's a challenge if the vampire's ever heard one. He grins before throwing back the remainder of the whiskey he brought over, his curiosity already getting the better of him. "It takes a lot to put me down, mate. I hope you're ready to be disappointed when I'm still good after this shot."

It can't be that bad, can it? The smell of ripe apples on top of a decadent sweet liquor tells Toby it's not that strong, by human standards anyway. It doesn't burn his nose when he picks up the glass and inhales the scents coming off it the way something of high proof does. Hell, it barely has a scent of alcohol that competes with the flavors in it. Whatever it is, if it's connected to Lucifer and his band of fallen angels, it's got to be better - and hopefully less dangerous - than whatever Joker was cooking up.

God, he really needs to reevaluate how he makes decisions one of these days.

Grin pulling wider, Toby raises the shot in salute and tosses it back in one go. At once he's hit with a wave of flavors and intoxication he wasn't expecting. The liquid is unexpectedly sour, if only just, and burns the way a good whiskey or brandy does. He blinks a few times and stares at the shot glass as everything settles over him, and then he's turn his grin up at the angel.

"Whatever this shit is, it's good. Better than most things I've tried... ever." He chuckles and gestures in a slightly over exaggerated manner with his shot glass. "You tell me where I can get more of this and I'll buy all night long."

[hesperussword]

"Tempting fate?" Beelzebub laughs at the vampire's cocky comment. The angel holds up the beer glass he has of the same drink and downs it like it's a shot. This is one of his favorite drinks; sweet, a little sour, a tiny kick of heat at the end.

Beelzebub wasn't inherently dangerous but he could be. Thankfully, many of his triggers weren't present. Toby after the drink gets more laughter from the angel. The exaggeration in the gestures just makes the angel smile as he pours himself another glass from the pitcher.

"This is Lucifer's apple brandy." Beelzebub sips the glass he's poured this time. He drinks like a fish and if the vampire wants to keep up it might be wise to just get a bottle. "Angelic brandy."

[rockandrollvampire]

"Apple brandy?" Toby's eyebrows rise in interest. "Isn't that a bit on the nose for Lucifer?"

If they'd ever met in person, he would totally understand why Lucifer flaunts the apple thing (Bowie would do the same damn thing, Toby's sure of it). But as they've only ever texted quite on accident so far, all the vampire can really wonder is if this apple theme runs deeper than just brandy.

"Didn't know angels distilled their own liquor. Your lot seems a lot more fun than the books claim you to be." Books never tell the whole story, of course, but the point stands. Toby chuckles a bit at the thought and then flags down the bartender for a refill of his whiskey. "I really do want a bottle of that, if you're all willing to part with one. Man needs a good way to smash himself senseless from time to time and that," he points to the pitcher at Beelzebub's elbow, "is perfect for the job."

Something that's sweet on the outside with some bite to it at the end? This drink is exactly Toby's type.

[hesperussword]

"In memory of his Queen." Beelzebub mentions, curious to see how much biblical knowledge the other immortal possessed. ".. and there is gratification in making drink from something stolen from the stick up His ass in heaven."

Toby has the angel laughing heartily as he drinks. "Poor fucking glutton who can't ferment thier own. We're all skilled in many 'human' endeavors. Most of us taught them."

"Milton had a better grasp than the bible." Like many of the angels this one had a soft spot for how he was portrayed by Milton. However, at the request Beelzebub's eyes turn to the pitcher then back to the vampire.

"That's the king's call." He sighs shaking his head. "There are side effects from consuming more than a small amount for anyone who isn't of our kind. Our inate abilities are in line with the more damaging side effects."

[rockandrollvampire]

Oh? This is news. There's so many conflicting stories about Lucifer and his fallen angels that Toby's never tried to keep them straight. Being a monster whose soul is mostly definitely already in Hell waiting for him also put him off from doing much for research. Indulging in an everlasting lifetime of whatever the fuck he wants has been much more enjoyable.

"Didn't realize rumors of a Queen were true," he murmurs. The bartender stops by briefly to drop a bottle of whiskey on the table for the vampire, who happily refills his glass and starts sipping at it. "Too many stories and rewrites to keep things straight. Good to stick it to The Man whenever possible, though."

As for some angels not being able to make their own liquor, well... that earns a chuckles as Toby finishes off his glass without pausing for a breath. "I'll leave distillation to the experts, then. Seems you've a good handle on it."

Mention of Milton gets a surprised look from the vampire. Seems without meaning to, Toby's managed to find someone else whose life has been told by an author and sold as fiction. "That's a heavy thing to carry." It's a sympathetic offering. Unwritten as his own story is, he definitely gets it after being with his soulmate. "I'm going to have to find a first edition to reread your particular story when I'm sober again." Which... might be a few days if he gets more of that brandy.

"I think he might be willing to let at least a little go." He grins mischievously at Beelzebub. "I'm a lot older and less breakable than I look. Not your kind of unbreakable - I've scars and hangovers to prove it - but I do have immortality going for me. For now, at least."

[hesperussword]

"It's not the one in the rumors." They had all heard the talk about Lilith and to the Fallen it just seemed to be a smoke screen to separate Eve from transgressions. "I'm sure there's shame to how many times Lucifer got passed the guards on the walls of Eden that God would rather not admit to."

"It isn't a burden. For a human, he got a lot of the story right." He shrugs at the idea of being burdened.

More laughter and more drinking. "The king is shrewd in his discussions but if you're up for dealing with the devil, he's as easy to find as I am."

"A few scars?" He can't resist taunting the vampire. "You're just as young and breakable as your body suggests. Newborn and foolish." He finishes his glass and pours another.

[rockandrollvampire]

Toby sputters slightly. "Wait, Eve was his Queen? Seriously?" It's a good kind of shock, really. A grin spreads over the vampire's face as that news sinks in. "I've nothing but respect for anyone willing to scale impossible walls for the one they want."

That's... not quite what he meant, but he'll let it be. Not everyone thinks of a story being a burden the way he does. Then again, he remembers, not everyone lives and loves someone like Dorian Gray.

His grin widens as he pours himself another drink and as he looks up at Beelzebub, the fallen angel will notice fangs sitting over his lips. "The devil and I have been spoken in the past, and I think he'd be willing to let me have a little something for my troubles when we meet each other in person." He sits back in his seat, his fangs disappearing as he throws back his latest pour. "A few hundred years of being fucked over by the universe I come from has to count for something. I'll even pull out the 'I lost my fucking soulmate to the Lucifer where I come from' if I have to."

Maybe that won't help or endear him to the Lucifer he's been texting with on occasion, but hey, he's willing to try pretty much anything to get more of that brandy. It's good and it'll knock him on his ass for days at a time if he tries hard enough. That's more than worth a little self flagelation.

[hesperussword]

Beelzebub can't help the smile that comes with the shock. This isn't a topic that Lucifer hides, and in his own creation it is widely known. The angel feels free to throw out other tidbits to keep up the shock. "Cain was so rebellious for a reason."

He just leaves that hang, for a moment, in the conversation before going on. "He didn't scale the walls. The guards let him pass." Lies, sweet talk, and illusion were in Lucifer's arsenal when he wanted them to be. Beelzebub knew well that when honor and honesty fell by the wayside with his king someone was going to lose.

The fangs get barely a second glance. There were angels with them as well, though it did give a hint to what kind of immortal is seated with him. The angel finishes off another glass listening, impassive and neutral. "My king is not the devil, nor does he have respect for his 'mediocre doppelgangers'."

Beelzebub is pouring another glass of brandy, amused by the way this vampire presumes to know who he's interested in meeting. "Though, if you seek his ire, comparing him to others will get you what you want."

He pauses, ruffled over the way this immortal speaks of age. It as common for the fallen, perhaps even a side effect of their great age. He shrugs, indifferent, and merely offering information. "We fell ten billion years ago."

[rockandrollvampire]

"He walked in?" Does Toby look as impressed as he is? The intoxicated jaw drop should give it away pretty easily. "I can completely believe this and am even more glad that's how he got in." That's a whole new level of awesome added to the story and Toby is living for it (metaphorically) right now. The booze may be making it a little easier for him to be extra excited about all this.

Toby waves a hand dismissively at the 'he's not the devil' speech. Yeah, yeah, he knows that already. Multiverses are weird and all that. "I'm not saying he did this to me, but he should have some sympathy for me because I've had to deal with someone who has his name doing it to me." That's how that works in his world. Duh.

The vampire looks across the table with raised eyebrows, his mouth opening and closing a few times as he stares dumbly. "...oh." He's met beings older than him, but not that much older than him. Uh, how does one talk to someone who's that much their elder?? "I'm... sorry?" Words are increasingly hard as the drink settles in, so this is not his finest or smoothest moment.

[hesperussword]

"God had the same look." Beelzebub chuckles at the jaw drop. "Robbed blind in his own backyard."

The angel gives him an eye roll as only a rebellious, drunken angel could. "Sympathy is earned with the king, like most things." He shrugs as he continues drinking. "If you're that hellbent on you own ideas, I'll call him. I could use the entertainment."

Now he's teasing the vampire, not maliciously but definitely prodding at him to see if he's really interested in Lucifer. Still more laughter comes with the comments about age. "Youth is not bad, but throwing your age around as weight in the Nexus is probably stupid."

[rockandrollvampire]

"Good. I'd hate for God to get away with not being scandalized from time to time." Not that he's ever met God or wants to, but it makes him feel better to know someone out there is pulling a fast one on "The Man Upstairs" whenever possible. Someone really ought to and it won't be this particular vampire.

Toby gives Beelzebub a flat look. "Well. Fine. Call him then." Because he totally doesn't mean it. Right? Right. Totally. No way would Beelzebub, lord of war, call Lucifer and tell him to come down and put a drunken vampire in his place. Not that Toby would complain if it did happen, but he suspects it won't. He came out to ruffle Beelzebub's feathers, not someone else's.

"It works surprisingly well!" he counters, pointing fast enough with the hand holding his glass that he sloshes some remnants of whiskey onto the table between them. "I mean, in me being older than most folks. Not everyone's impressed like they should be, but 300 is respectable even by immortal standards on my world! ...mostly. I told an angel back home and he told me I was young to his 6,000. That was a bit of a let down." Until he met the wine and book collection more intimately, but that's another story entirely.

[hesperussword]

"God, our God, is notoriously stupid when Lucifer is concerned." Beelzebub shook his head. The idiot moves God had pulled and then got mad over were ridiculous.

"Very well." Beelzebub shrugs as his black eyes shift toward the table, going distant from a moment while he nudges at Lucifer with his mind. "He should come soon, unless he's busy with his king, then I'll be ignored. Could be hours."

If there was trouble Lucifer would leave but for a social call even Beelzebub as his second in command ranked way below Balthazar to the point of barely existing. The angel accepted this, understood it on a personal level now.

"You're wasting good whiskey." Beelzebub scolds seeing the sloshed booze. It's mostly more harassment but for an immortal this one didn't handle their booze well. "We don't think about age, usually."

[rockandrollvampire]

"God seems to play a lot of stupid games in any universe, far as I can tell." Aziraphale's skirting around some of the issues God had laid out on himself and Crowley was more than enough evidence of that for Toby. Add in his own shitty luck with... just about everything that had happened in his life and he was certain God, in any form, enjoyed fucking with everyone under Him (or Her or Them? as the case may be) for the fun of it.

Okay, so, that's happening. Lucifer is actually coming here. Eventually. Maybe. "Holy shit." The words come out of his mouth before he's had any chance to think about them. He chuckles to himself and then pours out another drink. "That'll be a hell of a thing." He's so not ready, no matter how much he tries to convince himself otherwise.

"Shit whiskey, actually. I never get the good stuff when I get a whole bottle." That's a waste of the good stuff. Can't have that when he could enjoy it while he's having a better day. Besides, it was only a few drops; That's hardly a real waste of anything but the very best whiskeys.

"When you're literally timeless, that makes a lot of sense." Toby thinks about age because he was human, once. Being stuck alone for an unknown amount of time means he's holding onto that age number and waving it around like a flag of painful pride. "Humans, mortals anyway, think about it a lot. The few who understand or realize there are beings older than any mortal could ever be tend to want a number if you can give it to them."

[hesperussword]

"Ours seems in competition with the others for stupidity." Beelzebub laughed trying to think what was the most idiotic thing God had tried. It was impossible to discern. Trying to out sneak and lie Lucifer has to be among them.

His brow raises over the rim of the glass. "Our king is not what anyone expects."

"Your loss." Beelzebub scowls. "Why drink shit alcohol?"

He would never drink anything low quality, but then, that was the benefit of the angelic ability to make a bottle bottomless.

"We are aware of mortality in others. He shrugged. "We are bound by time, but Lucifer was created before the universe. He's the only one I'd call timeless."

[rockandrollvampire]

Toby chuckles at the comment about Lucifer. "I'm sure I'll be finding out about that soon enough." Humans are easy enough for the vampire to judge, but supernatural beings are another thing entirely. Angels of every sort fall squarely into that category.

"Cheaper and easier to get drunk on," he offers with a shrug. "It's easier than choosing to feel things and means I don't waste the good stuff when all I want is to blot everything out for a while." It's a very common thing for him these days. Perhaps less common after the his run in with the witch Joker was working with some months ago, but Toby still hates having and dealing with feelings. Getting so drunk he can't see straight for the next day or two is the easiest way to avoid doing just that.

An interesting way of talking about age and immortality. Toby arches an eyebrow at Beelzebub as he throws back his latest pour of whiskey. "So the rest of you will eventually pass on as well? Just... a very long time from now?" He tilts his head in a slightly exaggerated motion. "Like... when the universe ends?"

[the_rebel_son]

"Of course." Beelzebub was amused by this whole prospect. He can't wait to see how this train wreck was going to go because as of late Lucifer had been incredibly arrogant himself.

"I prefer to enjoy myself while I drink and pass on the piss when I can." The angel had high standards for his drinking unless it was a last resort. "I don't use it to blot anything out either, even if I'm constantly drunk."

Beelzebub was consistently aware and feeling even at the points when he had to lay down on the ground for awhile.

"We won't. We know when we're created so we aren't timeless." The angel pauses to consider the idea of an end of the universe. "Lucifer created our universe. He'd just probably create another if this one ended."


Beelzebub finishes his drink but pauses pouring to look up at the door. He could feel his king before the door even opened. The first hint of his presence is just as the door starts to move; the smell of sulfur and fire; paired with spring rains, damp soil, and a hint of wildflowers. The man that opens the door is tall, over six and a half feet; far taller than the man whose appearance he wore. The face is youthful but the gaze is sharp and intense. He is paler of skin and hair, more androgynous but not overly so. That fact accentuated by the black three piece suit and white dress shirt he wears. Designed in a masculine suit cut but fitting the body more femininely than one would put on a man.

His eyes work over the room, the same mismatched irises though his are darker, toward the twilight colors and unnaturally blue. He's someone who walks not just like he owns this place, but that he owns everything. Proud to the point of cocky and slightly sensual in his carriage and strut. The four snow white wings resting behind him the final hint anyone would need to know that this is Lucifer, first and foremost of the fallen. He wears rebellion in his presence like others have joy or sadness.

He considers no others in the bar while walking across the space to meet his second in command. Beelzebub grins at Toby. "The king's here."

[rockandrollvampire]

Poking holes in arrogant people is one of Toby's favorite pastimes, but whether he'll be able to manage it when he actually sees Lucifer is another story entirely. Dorian Gray and his ego is one thing, but the King of Hell is quite another.

"I like the good stuff as much as the next man, but I'd rather take the time to enjoy it if I'm going to drink it. There's no real point in drinking something good when I'm going to feel as physically miserable as I do on the inside." Okay, that's oversharing, but he's really starting to feel that shot Beelzebub gave him and the first half bottle of his cheap whiskey right now. Words will start to flow even more easily as the night goes on.

"That's not a terrible deal if you all get along." He's not sure he'd take a deal like that, but he's also not in the best spot right now. A lot of things that would've sounded great to him a few years ago, when his soulmate was at his side, sound like shit right now. Recovering from heartbreak and upset takes a while.

He pauses suddenly in his thoughts as the scent of something simultaneously fresh and decaying hits him. It's odd to smell the freshness of spring paired with the death and destruction of fire, but it somehow makes sense, too. That's what Lucifer is, yeah? Destruction and creation together, married in a single being that could shape reality as they chose.

Holy shit. He has to see this.

Despite his cockiness when texting with Lucifer or in talking with Beelzebub, Toby is wholly unprepared for the sight that follows the fallen angel entering the bar. No person as well versed and obsessed with the music of the 70's and 80's as him wouldn't know that face. The vampire sputters and stammers out a few words of utter nonsense as he stumbles to his feet, a hand raised to point at the four-winged angel as he completely ignores whatever was said to him from his companion at the table.

"You--" Uh, words got hard again. Somehow. Maybe staring down David fucking Bowie is doing that to him. Toby's jaw hangs open for a moment longer before he trips over his own feet and falls to his knees in front of Lucifer. The view is equally amazing from here.

"I'm actually meeting my god right now," he finally manages after a few seconds of staring up at Lucifer. "Bowie... Holy shit. If I weren't drunk I could tell you how many concerts I charmed my way into or jumped fences to see, but... it's a lot. Almost as many as the Madonna concerts I got into."

So much for his plan taking down Lucifer's ego. That may have to wait a few, uh, years. Decades. Or something. Because there is idol worship happening right now and it's not about to stop for a long time.

[the_rebel_son]

"I always take my time drinking." He looks over at the vampire, expression flat. "Immortality gives you forever and you waste it chugging piss?" The angel is incredulous, not just because of the idea that one would live forever drinking crap booze but also the oversharing.

"We get along well enough." The fighting honestly keep things interesting, even when it got a bit mean and damaging.

The display is enough to get the drunk angel into a full chuckle until his sides hurt. The arrogance devolving into this mess before him is pricelessly entertaining. Nor is it the first time he's seen someone go insane and mute from Lucifer entering the room.

Lucifer pauses in his forward movement to greet his warlord when Toby falls on his knees at his feet. His gaze turns down critical, judgmental, of the scene being caused in his presence. However, the vampire chooses one of few words that make this angel see red.

"I am no god." The words are venomous, cold, and discontent. Lucifer hated being called a god, loathed it. The prattling only irritates him more on top of the groveling appearance. Haughtily his eyes turn away, chin lifted and aloof as he steps around the person on the floor to address Beelzebub.

"Who is the drunken tart?" Lucifer asks as he casts his gaze back on the uncouth spectacle.

Beelzebub glances up as he sets the bottle aside still laughing though more quietly now. He looks over the table motioning with his glass toward Toby. "He wants a bottle of your brandy... or something?"

The way the vampire reacted seemed to suggest something other than Brandy was wanted but it was Lucifer's game now. Sitting back with some drinks, and pretzels, was probably the best way to watch this unfold in Beelzebub's estimation.

[rockandrollvampire]

So... not the best introduction to one another. Toby falling all over himself in supplication at the sight of David Bowie's face is definitely not helping matters.

"No, I don't mean that you're a god. I know that much. You're Lucifer, but not the one I know from my world, obviously, because you're not--" Ooookay. Nope. That's not working. He takes a breath and pushes himself to his feet with the aid of a nearby chair so he's a little less embarrassing of a sight.

"Sorry, let me try again." The vampire puts on his most charming smile (that he can manage in his intoxicated state) and offers a hand to Lucifer. "Tobias Matthews - Toby, if you'd prefer. I apologize for my, um, display there for a moment. I know who you are, but David Bowie - the one from my world - is my god, of sorts. I mean, I know he was mortal, but all men need idols, yeah? Bowie is simply one of mine. That man, may he rest in peace, is absolutely timeless."

It's really, really hard for Toby to make the distinction between 'looks like someone I know' and 'really is someone I know' in a place like the Nexus. This place is a goddamned minefield of absolute bullshit like that.

"I came out to meet your friend Beelzebub here, like you suggested over text," he offers, stepping in before Bowie Lucifer can make any assumptions. "He offered to invite you out so I could ask you myself about the brandy. I... kind of forgot for a moment when I saw you." He pauses for a beat, and then adds with a sheepish grin, "I'm easily distracted by beautiful people."

Flattery isn't likely to get him anywhere, but he's trying to be smooth? Or smooth enough at least?? It's really damn hard right now when he's being given a hard stare that he deserves as the moron he is.

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer's brow slowly raises as the immortal tries to back track from his statement. His eyes fall down to the hand before making it back up to Toby's face.

There's reluctance in the handshake because of the way this person presented themselves. He does take the hand in a firm shake before releasing it., eyes locked on the vampire. There's an unusual amount of heat in the skin, much warmer than a human. "He was a friend to me."

It is all that Lucifer says but the shift in his presence, a slight linger of sadness, before he changes the subject to address the rest of the vampire's words.

"Flattery will get you nothing, nor will whatever that display was on the floor." His words are firm but not quite unfriendly, just distant because this stranger, near stranger, had made a crass display. "For the look, I would say you have no need of our brandy."

[rockandrollvampire]

It seems David Bowie is a touchy subject. Okay, noted. That's going to take a lot of effort on Toby's part to not mention, but he'll manage. Somehow. Hopefully.

The handshake is stronger and warmer than Toby's expecting, but it feels lovely against his own cool skin. He doesn't let his fingers linger the way he wants to (he has a feeling that will go over quite poorly if he tries for it), but there's a definite reluctance to the way the vampire takes back his hand.

"Well, that is because I've already indulged in some tonight. Plus another..." He looks back at the table to check how far into his current bottle of whiskey he is before whipping back around to Lucifer. "Two thirds of a bottle of cheap whiskey. I don't want it for getting drunk - it's too good for that - but for those nights when I could use something nice to drink while I read or relax."

This may be a bit of a Hail Mary on his part, but he tries for a stretch on this next one. "I have friends who are angels back home I could share it with, too. Promise I'd drink it only with them, if you'd prefer. Seems like it'd be better shared anyway."

Is he reaching really hard right now to get what he wants? You bet your sweet ass he is.

[the_rebel_son]

"hmmm..." Lucifer has his attention on the other angel who is pouring him a glass of brandy in a snifter. "Tell me. Did he tell you of the side effects of its consumption over time?"

Lucifer turns back to the vampire with drink in hand. Lucifer, even with an edge of annoyance, carries himself like a king. His manners are impeccable, for the moment. He takes a sip and partially rolls his eyes. "You are nearing begging, are you not? It is very unflattering."

[rockandrollvampire]

"Side effects?" Toby turns to arch an eyebrow at Beelzebub. Come on, he thought you two were becoming friends! Why hold out on a vampire in his hour of need?!

Turning back to Lucifer, the vampire shakes his head and frowns. "Didn't hear of any and neglected to ask about them. I know it hit me harder than expected, but I figured anything made by immortal hands would do that." Especially angelic hands. It makes sense, even to his drunken mind, that they'd manage to make something that could knock him on his ass in short order.

But, really, someone thinks this is begging? They've never seen him get started. "I haven't gotten to begging yet," he assures(??) Lucifer. "Not at my most charming right now after all the liquor I've had, but I promise it's all words and nothing more right now. My offer to share it with my friend Aziraphale and his partner Crowley is entirely genuine."

Vampire charms don't work on any angels he's ever met, but he's really not willing to risk trying it right now. A bottle of that brandy is a lot to risk over him making an ass of himself. Well, more of an ass of himself.

[the_rebel_son]

Beelezbub met his gaze and laughed. "I warned you."

Lucifer shrugged nonchalant. "The fruit this brandy is made from was not made to be consumed. There are effects that can be quite severe for someone who is not an angel."

"I would suggest against it." He comments on the begging because it is not something Lucifer would tolerate. "Charm is useless. Perhaps you should try being an acquaintance first."

"Aziraphale and Crowley are welcome at our home for drinks whenever they wish."

[rockandrollvampire]

The look Toby throws at Beelzebub very clearly say "Thanks for nothing, asshole." Come on, he thought you were bros!

"I'm not exactly human anymore, though," he notes. "Maybe vampires will do better than others would? Don't have the timeless thing going for me, but my body can take a beating and recover without any signs of it. Even hangovers pass with enough time..." Prooobably not helping his case, but he's trying.

Well, that's... fair. Damn. Toby runs a hand through his hair and rubs the back of his neck nervously, one of his many habits done to make himself more relatable to humans. "Can I buy you a drink while we get to know one another, then? Nothing here will match your brandy, but I'm certain the bartender can offer something worthwhile."

Of course Az and Crowley are invited over whenever. The angel makes friends with literally anyone without much effort and the demon is likeable, even when he's being a prick. "I have a feeling they'd leave me at home when they came to visit. That whole 'third wheel' thing is pretty real for them."

[the_rebel_son]

Beelzebub only laughs at the comment from the vampire. If he only knew. Still, War is not going to subsume this conversation from the king. At this point he's just along for the ride and drinks.

Lucifer turns on the vampire gaze and words very pointed. "Are you omniscient?"

The angel considers the offer and nods. "Very well. I will share a drink."

There's a small shrug. "Aziraphale most often visits on his own."

[rockandrollvampire]

"No?" Oh shit. Did he say the wrong thing again. ...it's really not surprising if he did. "I just see no point in saying 'no' without giving something a try. If I get hurt by it, it's not your fault." He frowns and shrugs. "Predicting anything isn't worth it for how often things change in the world around us."

Well, almost everything. Beings like angels and demons don't exactly change after all.

He looks absolutely relieved by Lucifer agreeing to a drink. A small grin returns to his face and he motions to the table Beelzebub is at. "Have a seat. I'll find us something."

The bar's offerings are actually much better than the vampire is expecting. Not amazing, but good enough to have a few 30 year aged scotches on hand. Toby takes a bottle from a defunct Earth distillery and then makes his way over the to tables where the angels are at with a set of fresh glasses.

"Crowley is a bit of a stick in the mud," Toby notes as he pours the three of them a glass. "Frets about the strangest things. I mean, some of them make sense, what with having enemies and all, but he gets annoyed at me for things like borrowing books from the shop." Okay, so, he totally steals some of them, but Crowley can take back those first edition Oscar Wildes over his undead body.

Glasses filled, Toby passes one to each of the angels and lifts his in toast. "To making new friends," he offers with a smile. "Cheers."

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer sighs at the behavior. "One side effect is uncontrollable, fragmented flashes of omniscience that can go on for days."

Toby will likely see surprise in the future if his belief is that angels don't change. Lucifer and his angels change drastically, sometimes violently over time.

He does take a seat with Beelzebub who is still way more amused by this situation than Lucifer. The angel isn't as picky about his drinks as one might assume, particularly when someone else is choosing, it's his diplomatic nature if nothing else.

"I am an incredibly powerful version of a boss he does not appreciate." Lucifer can freely admit that. He can't imagine being any different if he met a civil version of God. "Books are a dangerous thing to meddle with when it comes to any angel."

He'd have fingers for taking books from his library. Toby fills the glasses, and Beelzebub has already drained his before the vampire can toast. Lucifer cracks a big grin over the situation. Unlike Beelzebub he doesn't drink quickly. His attention is far more focused on the new comer.

[rockandrollvampire]

"...huh." Well, that wouldn't be pleasant, but it's better than being set on fire? Probably? He wouldn't actually know, seeing as he's never had visions of any sort before. "That'd be new if it did happen." And new is always good when you're an easily bored immortal who can only go outside at night.

"He does seem to have trouble letting go of things..." Like the book theft(s) he's committed. It would be so easy to let them go. Aziraphale does! Toby shakes his head and sips at his drink. "He and that angel of his are settling in nicely though. Don't think I've ever seen Aziraphale as happy as when they're together."

Of course Beelzebub is drinking before Toby can toast. The vampire chuckles and holds up the bottle to pour more for the angel, should he want it. "I wouldn't borrow them so often if they didn't mean so much to me. I've a particular fondness for a few authors and could ...well, I do read their works frequently. Call it an obsession if you like, but having one of those isn't unhealthy from time to time." This particular one won't ever go away, but Toby doesn't really care. If he can't have certain things for the rest of his life, he's damn well taking advantage of others.

[the_rebel_son]

A single brow goes up at the vampire's comment. "If your mind survived. I have no desire to be responsible for your foolishness." He was more serious than he had been. "You do not have the control for it given to you, if I am to judge by the way you continue to angle for what you want without restraint. Perhaps, some other time."

Though polite and neutral, there is a definite 'no' being issued to the request for the time being. Lucifer's tone is enough to stop Beelzebub's laughter, and his drinking pauses briefly.

However, as the subject turns to other things, any sternness that might have been perceived fades. "I think that is part of a long life that fills with memories."

Lucifer himself had a few keepsakes, nothing to fill an entire shop, but anyone removing them would find more than the harsh talking to he imagines from Aziraphale. "It appears to be a trend in the Nexus among our kind. It gives reason and stability to enter uncharted territory."

Lucifer's gaze leaves Toby, briefly considering the angel beside him. A look that is pointedly ignored by Beelzebub who is pouring another glass of brandy from his pitcher. If Lucifer was going to start anything along that line of discussion, he was going to need a lot more to drink. Finally, the talk of authors brings a hint of genuine smile to the king. "I have books with similar meaning in my collection, given to me by John Milton when I had occasion to visit him, and music books penned by Beethoven. I can understand the connection to literature."

[rockandrollvampire]

Damn. Looks like his quest is thwarted entirely. He'll have to work back up to asking again another day (because there's no way he's not trying again for it). He shrugs and offers an easy smile in return for being turned down. "Another time," he agrees.

"Trinkets and keepsakes are the easiest way to bring certain memories to mind," he adds. God knows the number of bits and baubles he's picked up and dropped over the last three centuries to keep certain people he's lost closer. Most are lost to the life he can't go back to with Dorian, but... well. That's not something he really wants to think or talk about right now, so he'll finish off his glass and pour himself another as he listens.

His eyes widen at the mention of the famous composer. "Beethoven?" He lets out a low whistle of approval. "That's a real treasure. I've a lot of books from over the years, but I never asked or tried for musical pieces. Anything I might know that you have a personally penned copy of? I'm not asking to see it, mind, but I am curious as to what he shared."

[the_rebel_son]

"If they exist." Lucifer commented on the idea of trinkets. He owned nothing of the woman he had once loved, mostly because ownership and sentiment to items wasn't yet a part of experience. How he wished he had those at times.

The conversation is treading into dangerous ground for the angel, where emotions would run high and outbursts were likely. For the moment he contentedly sat drinking and keeping the topics at an arms distance from his feelings. "What I possess has been given freely as gifts."

The question about his possessions gives the angel pause and reason to cast an analytical gaze on the vampire long before speaking. "The Moonlight Sonata, written for a woman, a student of his, who loved him and was fair skinned. They say she had the voice and grace of an angel."

Lucifer was certainly implying what it sounded like. There were occasions when he walked among humans for reasons of his own, or sometimes because his heart would have nothing else. The arrogant, wild musician had always felt, to the angel, as if he were watching some part of himself, primal and uncontrolled, create on its own. "I have a few pieces of drafts from the 5th and 9th symphonies when the pieces eluded him and spurned his anger to throw vials of ink on the books."

The fondness is there, and a cadence to Lucifer's speech. He wasn't speaking of events he had read of, or seen off hand but things he had been involved in and remembered more than one dress ruined to a tantrum written in ink. "The 9th he insisted I have his finished draft for his undue harassment of my voice and person."

[rockandrollvampire]

"Gifts are better than things taken or retrieved after a loved one's passing." That Toby can agree to readily. His favorite mementos are all gifts he was given by those he's loved over the years. True, he still has some that he's taken, but what else was he supposed to do in some cases? Some have left him rather suddenly or been forced out of his life for reasons beyond either party's control. He'll be damned again if anyone tries to take what few things he was able to take with him from Dorian.

He grins around a sip of his drink as Lucifer tells the story of Moonlight Sonata. That's a very thinly veiled story and exactly the kind of thing he loves to know. He's going to hold onto that tidbit now, thanks.

"He gave it to you as his penance?" That's surprising. Being given something like that is unusual even for those with extremely long lives. For an artist to give away something so precious requires a hell of a strong will, one that many don't have. Toby's eyebrows rise briefly as he refreshes his drink and then he tips his drink in Lucifer's direction. "It turned out beautifully. I've enjoyed it many times over the years, in person from time to time and everything. Didn't make it to its debut, though. Bit too far for me to travel back then."

[the_rebel_son]

"There are those who passed from my presence before the idea of possessions existed." Lucifer downed his drink and for the first time in a few minutes Beelzebub moved more than looking between the two men. He filled the kings cup and left the pitcher within Lucifer's reach. He knew who his brother was speaking about. He'd need more drink if this line continued.

"Perhaps." Lucifer smirked "I have always believed it a gift for taunting a woman his equal in ego and musical ability."

"He was a capricious teacher." Lucifer's tone turns nostalgic as he goes on, finishing his drink and pouring another. " It will never sound the same again, as it did in practice with the maestro on viola and an angel singing. The soprano is never as high as it was intended to be."