asgardmeridiem | Lux Opening [OPEN]

Entry tags:

Lux Opening [OPEN]

Who: YOU. This is an OPEN log, heck yeah.
What: Lux's Grand Opening
When: Day 69, all night
Where: Lux, in the Baldr District
Rating: PG-13 to be safe—If the rating goes up in a thread, please let me know!

Welcome to Lux —

It's been under construction for about a month, and anyone in the Baldr district (or who just liked to wander) surely would have noticed the bar's construction. It was only a few days ago that the sign was finally put up—Lux.

Maybe you saw the owner's post on the network and decided to come see. Or maybe you were just walking past and was curious about the crowd of people who had gathered. Regardless, you'll be welcomed into a ritzy bar and lounge. There are some locals mingling about, and jazz is drifting through the air, since the owner is currently playing.

Should you decide to stay, you'll find that the drinks and food are very generously half price for grand opening. Or, if that's not to your taste, then surely the music and crowd will make up for it.

Welcome to Lux, the bar owned by the Devil himself.

quick jump to threads

outside lux ☄ around the bar ☄ general mingling ☄ by the stage ☄ speak with the owner

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, you don't need to call me "Miss." It always feels strange with my actual name, since I don't have a last name, you know? So just "Diva," that's fine.

[She looks at one of the seats at the table]

May I?

Oh, I'm sorry.

[She looks apologetic before standing up. She didn't want to be rude.]

Please.

You don't need to apologize!

[She takes a seat, always smiling, though that is helped somewhat by the wine in her hand]

Hey, you're lucky, though! I mean, to have a nice place like this open up so soon after you got here...? I've been waiting for something like this for a long time! There was a ball, I guess, but that was...

[She looks away thoughtfully. But that was not even a full day after she'd died, so it was a bit dampened by that.]

Well, it wasn't that great. But they're having that spring party in a few days, right? At least, I thought I read something about it. Do you think you'll go?

I'm not sure yet. I was thinking about it.

How about you?

Oh, absolutely! I love balls and things like that to begin with, and I also have a beautiful new gown that I just have to wear. It's lucky that an occasion to wear it came up so soon.

[She's a woman that's really only ever lived at the very top of the social ladder, and that's probably becoming more and more apparent from how she carries herself and from the casual enthusiasm of such a fancy event. It's just another out of many, for her.]

Johan is going too. Well, I haven't asked him yet, but it doesn't really matter. [She waves her hand dismissively] He doesn't have a choice.

[Again Nina realizes how surreal this all feels. It was almost like she and Diva were speaking as old friends, as if Diva were her brother's girlfriend or her sister-in-law. Having such a normal conversation seems so strange to Nina, but it's not unwelcome.

There's a pause before Nina's smile fades a little, and she looks more serious.]

I am concerned about the party, though. It might be a trap or trick from the gods.

Do you think so?

[She looks surprised, taking a sip of her wine to pause, but just shrugs]

I guess it could be. The first one wasn't, but they weren't randomly killing people either... Ah, not that it matters, though, since no one really dies or anything here. But whatever. I'm not really worried about what they want to do, honestly. I don't bother keeping up with that stuff.

[Nina's still getting used to how nonchalant many people are about death and resurrection in this world.]

And nothing strange happened at the first ball?

[She thinks about it, then laughs]

Well, I guess some strange things happened, but that wouldn't have anything to do with the gods, I promise. It was just weird timing for me.

[Nina looks a little concerned.]

Ah, what happened?

[She considers it for a moment, but decides to tell the truth. Her smile stays, like she's admitting something boring, like the weather.]

Well, I was killed not long before it. Maybe twelve hours...? Ah, it didn't really matter, though, since here I am. Of course, a couple people weren't exactly happy to see me there, so I got a few threats, but...

[She shrugs] Well, these things happen. People have been hating me for what I am for as long as I can remember, you know, and that doesn't change here.

[Nina's eyes widen in distress, and she instinctively reaches across the table to touch Diva's arm.]

I'm so sorry.

[She can't really hide her surprise at the sympathy like she would want to, but she doesn't flinch or lean away from that touch. Really, Diva just looks confused more than anything.]

You're sorry?

["Why?" But she doesn't ask why, because she already anticipates the answer, even if she can't believe or accept it. The confusion fades, and she just smiles again, shaking her head.]

You don't need to be sorry. It's not a big deal. I was immortal before I came here, so I died more times than I can even count. I wasn't bothered at all. If anything, it was inconvenient because it ruined my dress.

[Nina doesn't know how to respond to Diva's lack of emotion. She struggles with her words a moment before saying gently:]

No matter how many times it happens, it's terrible.

[She didn't even want to think about something similar happening to Johan. It doesn't matter if the gods had the power of resurrection. Death would always be horrible.]

[She stares at her for a moment, but chuckles lightly.]

"You said you've died a thousand times before. It might not matter to you, but each and everyone of those deaths matter to someone like me."

[From the way she says it, it's clear she's repeating someone's words, but she pauses to takes a long, drawn out drink of her wine that nearly finishes off the glass. Diva sets the glass on the table carefully, then looks back at Nina with a soft smile. She almost looks sad.]

That's what Johan told me. On the night that I died, actually. No one had ever said something like that to me. It's funny to hear you say it too.

[She reaches out to her glass, her fingers tracing the rim of the glass in a light motion, since she's focusing on that instead of meeting her eyes.]

I died to come here at all, you know. And I mean that I really died, not died to come back like I normally would. It was my sister that killed me. Saya could never accept or understand what I was, what we were, so she proved her own existence by killing me. My life never meant anything, and no one would have mourned my death. Isn't that sad?

[She doesn't sound sad at all, though. It's just said simply, like it's another boring fact, and not a tragedy of her life. Diva withdraws her hand, meeting Nina's eyes slowly.]

So hearing you and Johan say something like that? It's strange, to me. I never thought anyone would really think of my death as something sad.

[A whirlwind of emotions overwhelms Nina. Surprise that Johan said those words. Worry over Diva's nonchalance. But, most of all, distress at hearing about her relationship with her sister.

It was horrible, to find out what Diva's been through. But hearing the similarity in their stories is what really startles Nina. Her lip trembles and there's a small intake of breath when Nina realizes how close she and Johan came to having the same ending.

Despite the obvious sorrow on Nina's face, she doesn't say a word. She stands up from her seat, walks the short distance between them, and embraces Diva.]

[She doesn't move away, just accepts the hug like a statue. Her eyes are wide because she doesn't expect the sympathetic gesture, and certainly doesn't know how to deal with it. It makes emotion well up that she wants to stomp down, because at first, she can only wonder where people like this were when she was alive. But she can't dwell on that thought too long, because it brings up an unpleasant truth about her Chevalier that she wants to deny.

But the shock fades, and her expression cools. There's another desire there, to bite into her neck right then to show her that this sympathy was undeserved, to deny it completely. But she has to behave.]

Ah, was that too much to say at once?

[Diva pauses, looking away at some random thing]

Sorry if I made you sad. I didn't mean to.

[Suddenly, Nina steps back from the embrace, looking a little sheepish. She realizes now the hug might have been more for her than Diva.]

No, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable.

No, nothing like that.

[Which was true. Personal space was something of an abstract concept as far as she was concerned, so having it invaded didn't bother her in the slightest. Diva takes the wine glass again and finishes it off, thinking about how it'll let the mask slip back into place. She laughs slightly, with a hint of warmth.]

It's not really the same gesture at all, but it is kind of funny. That kind of kindness is what made me love Johan. I guess that's something you share?

[She sets the empty glass on the table and looks away, considering ordering another, though her tone is light and teasing]

Well, at least that's a good thing to share, right? Anyone else would worry if you shared too much with Johan, I bet.

[Nina knows Diva's trying to be cheerful, but hearing that makes her a little solemn. It reminds her of her lingering doubts about Johan.]

Ah, yes.

[She tilts her head slightly, because it was a bit of baiting on her part. After all, she could learn things about Johan from his sister that she doubted he would tell her. Or at least in a straightforward way. She just had to steer the conversation that way, if she could.]

...Is something wrong?

[Nina snaps out of her thoughts, giving Diva a small smile. She had to keep better track of her emotions. She didn't want to bother anyone with her concerns.]

Oh no, it's nothing.

[She shrugs lightly, but her pleasant hinging on sweet smile stays]

Ah, you know, though, I've been kind of rude, haven't I? I've spent most of the time we've talked talking about Johan...! Well, it's kind of fair, but still! Tell me about Nina.

[Diva smiles playfully] Like, do you have a boyfried or anything like that? Ahh, or no, you seem a bit serious, so I bet you're in a university or something, am I right? It sounds kind of bad, I think, but I still haven't really gotten used to things like that! The idea of a woman going to a university or something, I mean. When I was growing up, that was just unheard of, you know?

Ah, no, you haven't been rude at all...

[...Boyfriend?

...Serious?]

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