Sing with me a song of love [Open]

[glassfall]

WHO: Cinders and you!
WHERE: Revīvēscere and Nonah.
WHEN: June 10-11.
WHAT: Cinders is at work and about town.
WARNINGS: None!

[Option A: Revīvēscere]

[It had taken awhile, but Cinders had adjusted to her new job. Her mysterious employer hadn't much cared for overseeing something he didn't have to, and so Cinders had gladly picked it up. It was nothing major, really; just the hiring of a bartender or two from about town and ensuring things ran smoothly while Lucifer did... whatever it was he was wont to do. Truth be told, they rarely spoke during business hours, except for the rare occasion she needed to bring something to his attention. But he was pleasant enough, and the work was hardly taxing to someone like Cinders, who had grown used to working herself to the bone in the years following her father's death.

This evening, there are few customers, and Cinders sings softly to herself while she works. Fortunately for anyone who happens nearby, she has a lovely voice - unlike her dear stepsisters, who were unable to carry a tune (and in the younger's case, a step; she wasn't the sort who liked to dance). And the work's just about done... unless someone happens to need her attention.]

[Option B: Nonah]

[Her work done for now, Cinders had taken to wandering about town. The change in her now - compared to a month ago - was quite visible, with Cinders having more of a bounce in her step and a glow to her skin. As it turned out, no longer living under the oppressive thumb of her stepfamily had been even more exhilarating than she'd anticipated. The lack of corsets helped, too, and now Cinders rarely wore her old rags, or defaulted to her ballgown in case of a fancy event. She was still disinclined to put on a pair of jeans, of course, but that didn't mean she wasn't comfortable, nonetheless. Truth be told, she preferred a look of simple, understated elegance whenever she could manage it - no longer a slave in her own home, nor a mysterious princess waiting for a miracle to arrive.

It was wonderful, to come into her own at last. Madame Ghede would have been proud, and Cinders had a soft smile on her face as she thought about her friend, even whistling a little as she wandered along.

The cars were still weirding her out, though.]

Comments

lucifer | ota

[sunlighter]

[She may have come to find the nature of her new employer rather curious over the past month or so. After all, when something displeased him inside the walls of his establishment, they would change-- almost immediately, and often times right in front of her. As his aesthetic changed, so would the world around him, seemingly as he pleased.

On grander occasions of such feats, this would appear to tire him, though he would never speak of this openly, and most wouldn't dare to inquire. Still, today seems to be one of those days, though the bar itself seems unchanged. As usual, however, he chooses an empty table closer to her and sits back with a drink-- a scotch, neat, served in a cube glass-- and listens to her sing with his head resting against the chair's top rail.]

[glassfall]

[Cinders has, indeed, found Lucifer rather curious. She learned quickly that Lucifer rarely kept things as they were, resulting in her having to have to think on her feet on more than one occasion. Thankfully, Cinders is used to this (thanks to Carmosa), and adjusts quickly. Although she does wish that he would at least leave the alcohol where it is... but one can't have everything.

Most wouldn't dare, but Cinders isn't most people, and after giving him some time, she comes by to refill his glass.]

Are you alright?

[She won't pry, of course, if he's of a mood, but sometimes, she's almost worried for him. Still, she knows him well enough by now to know when to back off.]

[sunlighter]

["Are you alright?" Cinderella asks the Devil. There's a joke there somewhere. He finds it quite humorous, and lifts his glass.]

I believe they called that a complex question fallacy, my dear. Let's presuppose that I am and move on. [He takes a sip...]

[glassfall]

[She's pretty sure she's told the joke herself, at this point. But she shrugs and smiles, and goes back to cleaning the bar, humming a little here and there.]

It's a nice night out, isn't it? The stars here are so different than they are, back home.

[It's not much, but she's testing the waters, for now. Lucifer, although enigmatic, is far more decent an employer than her own stepmother was (and she's pretty sure there's a joke there, too). It helps, of course, that he actually pays her.]

[sunlighter]

The Big Bang. Something of a Jackson Pollock; you never do know where the paint will land. But an eye for placement can sometimes create something approaching original.

[He swirls the ice around in his glass, the clear cubes glinting off of the overhead lights like little stars of their own.]

[glassfall]

[And those terms are officially added to Cinders' Things to Look Up Later list. She knows Lucifer isn't often in the mood to explain things, and this seems to not be the time. She gets the gist, at least.]

What are they like in your universe, then?

[sunlighter]

Like ionized balls of plasma, what else would they look like?

[glassfall]

[She chuckles.]

I meant the patterns, Lucifer.

[sunlighter]

[He nearly scoffs.]

You don't even know what you're asking-- something very impossible to explain. A singular explosion of cosmic expansion, of infinite density and temperature, the creation of entropy as subatomic particles burst into existence. A paradox of painstakingly rehearsed randomness.

In the end, people see the patterns they want to see.

[glassfall]

And that's why I'm asking, isn't it? One never does know some things unless they ask.

[She smiles.]

Are you talking about the stars, or fate?

[Because it sounds like he might be talking about both, and BOY HOWDY does she have some thoughts about the latter, courtesy of her stepmother and the Fairy of the Lake.]

[sunlighter]

'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.'

[He does not imagine that she'll be quite familiar with Julius Caesar, but then again, he said it only because he found it humorous.]

[glassfall]

[She may not get the reference, but she thinks she gets the gist.]

I think I see what you mean. If everything were up to fate, I'd never have tried to better my life. I would have simply remained Carmosa's servant forever.

[And honestly? Screw that.]

[sunlighter]

[He rotates his wrist a few times in response.]

Yes, something like that, I'm sure.

[glassfall]

[Cinders chuckles a little, moving to wipe down some of the glasses. She's slowly, but surely, getting used to this place.]

I had to fight and scheme and work to get where I was in my world. Calling my efforts "fate" would be insulting. Leaving my life up to it would have been cowardice.

[She will take responsibility for her own actions, societal standards be damned.]

Nonah

[bespin]

[ Lando has adapted his fashion choices somewhat to match the area, but he does still maintain his preference for capes. Having just got off work at the dance studio, he dons his cape and goes to run his errands around Nonah. Except he doesn't watch where he's going, and accidentally runs into a pretty young woman walking down the sidewalk. ]

Oh, do pardon me. I didn't see you there.

[glassfall]

[Cinders, meanwhile, had her head in the clouds. Whoops?]

Oh, no, pardon me. I'm afraid I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you alright?

[bespin]

I'm fine. How about we agree to pardon each other for that little misstep?

[ He takes her hand and raises her palm to his lips for a kiss. ]

Lando Calrissian, at your service.

[glassfall]

Yes, let's.

[She's caught off-guard by the kiss, but giggles a little, blushing.]

Such a gentleman! I'm called Cinders.

[bespin]

When faced with such a beauty as yourself, I can't help but be a gentleman.

[ Still holding onto her hand, he turns to continue in the direction she was walking down the street. ]

Please, may I walk you where you're going? There are all sorts of types out and about in this city. You never know who you'll run into, and they won't all be as gentlemanly as me.

[glassfall]

[Cinders smiles again, although she politely withdraws her hand.]

Of course. I would appreciate the company.

[bespin]

[ Hand or no hand, she's still letting him walk with her and that's a win in Lando's book. ]

Where are you headed on this fine afternoon?

[glassfall]

Nowhere in particular. I have just finished working, in fact. I thought I'd wander around a little.

[bespin]

You and me both! It's always nice to wander and relax, after a hard day's work.

Where do you work, if you don't mind me asking?

[glassfall]

Yes, it is. I never got to relax before.

I work at Revīvēscere, in Miami.

[Fortunately, the Porter system makes it easy to get to, but she's still contemplating moving in order to be closer to her work.]

[bespin]

That's quite a commute. [ Made easier by the Porters, no doubt, but all the same. ] I live and work here in Nonah. [ He gestures behind him towards the building he'd stepped out of. ] I teach lessons at Disco Dan's House of Moves.

I could arrange for private lessons, if you're ever interested in that sort of thing.

[glassfall]

[She has no idea what "disco" is, but she makes a mental note to look it up later.]

Thank you. I'll consider it.

[bespin]

I'll bet you're quite a dancer.

[ Laying it on thick, while he's got a captive audience. ]

[glassfall]

I'm passable, I suppose. I never had any cause to dance until a little before I came here.

[bespin]

Then I'll have to celebrate you being here with a dance just for you.

[glassfall]

[And now he's laying it on too thick.]

You're trying too hard.

[bespin]

So I am.

[ He raises his hands in a surrendering gesture. ]

You'll have to forgive me. Been cooped up here too long, my conversation skills are getting rusty.

[glassfall]

I see. So you decided to jump in feet-first in order to practice?

[She's kidding, don't worry.]

[bespin]

Is there any other way to do it?

[ From the looks of things, Lando rarely takes anything that seriously. ]