The First Of The Fallen

( 'Why do they blame me for all their little failings? They use my name as if I spent my entire day sitting on their shoulders, forcing them to commit acts they would otherwise find repulsive. 'The Devil made me do it.' I have never made one of them do anything. Never. And then they die, and they come here, having transgressed against what they believed to be right. And expect us to fulfill their desire for pain and retribution. I don't make them come here. They talk of me going around and buying souls, like a fishwife come market day, never stopping to ask themselves why. I need no souls. And how can anyone own a soul? No, they belong to themselves. They just hate to face up to it.' )

An as-yet unclaimed prize. Who knew the denizens of Hell were so abstemious?

"Hell is empty, and all the devils are here."

So it would seem.

[Private]
Hm.

Your sense of humor concerning Halloween costumes could afford some work, Soledad.

Find out which musicians are on the agenda tonight. If you have too much time on your hands, you could have just asked for drudge work.

I need more Mouton-Rothschild, Soledad. Make it 1945, and make the necessary calls.

If I had realized that a secular holiday and a ship were all that was needed to stop constant complaints, there would have been invitations to board a schooner on a lake of fire. Imagine the headaches we would have been spared.

[Locked from Lucifer]
He did not stop playing for very long tonight. But it was strange, the look on his face when he glanced up halfway through the evening. No notes dropped, and no surprise at all. Anticipation, I suppose. Is that what it was?

I should worry, if he is anticipating anything. And yet I think that might be all he does, else he would not be him.

When we had closed and I was running the numbers, he stopped by for a moment. "There is nothing to concern yourself with, Soledad. Just a changing of the guards."

No matter what he says, it is never comforting. I know he doesn't mean for it to be. And still.

Lux will be open as of this Friday evening. The bar is, as I have been informed, ready come Hell or high water. His sense of humor...

There isn't to be any publicity. It opens cold, and whomever shows, shows. Mr. Lux insists that those who have want or need of the place will be able to find it. Knowing him, that is probably as close to an invitation as will ever be sent out.

All orders are in. The electrician has given the all-clear. Most importantly, the piano is in place.

The immediate staff has been hired and trained, but he'll we'll be taking some stragglers' resumes for the hostess and bartender positions. It's not quite right yet. Not quite perfect.

On the plus side, Mr. Lux hasn't asked me to interview for any singers.

And a new day dawns.

( [Private] )

Lux will be operational within a week. The building is charted, the permits have been acquired, and furniture will be delivered after the electrician finishes work.

Now it's just finding the proper place for the piano.