A/N: Sorry for the long wait on this chapter, but I took a stab at something I never tried before. I didn't want Verosika's song to be just some random song I found on the internet and inserted into the fic, I wanted it to actually be her, a song she created, so…
I wrote lyrics for a song.
Yeah, you read that.
Honestly, I don't know if I'm completely happy with how they turned out, but I tried my best, and considering I'm not the songwriter in my family (That spot goes to my brother), I feel like I did decent enough for a beginner, and it at least conveys the message I'm looking for here.
Anyway, I look forward to your thoughts on this chapter after such a long wait, and I hope you enjoy it all the same.
So, without further ado, on with the chapter!
John groaned as he massaged his now aching horns, while Verosika giggled at the site and Vortex let out a chuckle. Loona, meanwhile, just laughed.
"Ow…" He groaned, massaging both his horns and his forehead. "I scewer people with these things and rush through walls like their not even there, but I knock them on something and that's what hurts?" He mutters, shaking his head as he rubbed them in an attempt to soothe them.
Verosika came down from her giggles as she smiled at John. "You'll be fine."
"Don't mean it doesn't hurt." John retorted with a smile of his own as he stopped trying to dull the ache in his horns.
"Hey, Verosika!"
A new voice caught their attention, and everyone turned towards the source.
John couldn't help it when his eyes widened. He wasn't expecting so many people to be present.
There were three incubi and four succubi, and John admittedly was caught off guard. When Verosika and Vortex talked about a crew, he wasn't expecting seven people!
"We've been waiting forever, girl!" One of the succubi, a short, plump woman, stood up off of a beanbag with a smile as she approached Verosika.
Verosika smiled, before glancing up at John. "I was… occupied…" She remarked, before glancing back towards the fellow succubi. "Sorry, Milky."
"Who's the new guy?" One of the incubi asked, glancing towards John with a rather… John wasn't unsure of how to describe the smile, he just knew it made him uncomfortable.
"He's my boyfriend." Verosika replied with a smile, before her eyes narrowed as she glared at the incubus who asked. "So hands off, Josh!"
The succubus known as Josh, a tall demon with a lean physique, raised his hands in surrender as he let out a chuckle. "Hey, I was just asking a question." He said with a shake of his head.
"Is this the John guy you'd talk about every once in a while?" Another succubus, tall and skinny, asked as she eyed John up and down.
"Yep!" Verosika nodded, glancing up at John. "And he agreed to come see me sing the new song."
"About time." Another incubus, a shorter, lanky one in a red shirt, remarked as he stood up off of a table he'd been sitting on, though he had a playful smile on his face as he spoke. "I thought we'd never get to see you record this song."
"Yeah." A short, blonde succubus agreed with her friend, smiling at Verosika. "You've got the lyrics done, the beats and everything are finished, but you've been holding off on recording this song forever, 'Rosika."
John couldn't help but glance down at Verosika with a playful smile on his face. "Oh?" He teased.
Verosika responded by elbowing him in the side, though he merely let out a chuckle in response. "Shut up." She mumbled, rubbing her now aching elbow.
"That's what happens when you make fun of my-OW! Ow, okay!" John immediately gave in when Verosika reached up to tug on his shoulder spikes, though he still had a smile on his face. "I was only kidding, woman!"
"Don't tease me in front of my friends." Verosika responded, shooting a playful glare at her boyfriend, who chuckled.
"What? They know Verosika, but I can guarantee they don't know Rose." John retorted as he rubbed his shoulder.
"Rose?" A succubus, who was wearing a dress that was completely see throughabove the waist, with only x's covering her nipples, furrowed her brow in confusion at John's words. "What's that mean?"
Verosika shot a glare at John, who chuckled, but it Vortex who answered.
"Rose used her birth name when she started this whole pop star thing." Vortex clarified, admittedly finding a little bit of mirth in the betrayed expression on Verosika's face. "But friends and family call her Rose. It's the real her, not the persona."
Most of the group already in the room widened their eyes, finally noticing Vortex. "You're in here, Vortex?" A succubus with a skull shirt asked. "You usually wait outside."
"My buddy's here, Coco." Vortex answered, jerking a thumb towards John with a smile on his face. "You better believe I'm gonna spend some time with him." His eyes drifted off towards Verosika with a grin. "And considering what, or rather, who this song is about, I'm interested in actually hearing it."
At Vortex's words, John turned to look at Verosika with a grin on his face. "Oh? Well, that's interesting." He teased, while Verosika simply blushed under his gaze, before glaring at Vortex.
"Traitor." Verosika mumbled towards her cousin, who simply chuckled.
"Yep." Vortex admitted without shame.
"Before we do anything, I'd like to at least know their names." John spoke up as he glanced down towards the group of succubi he'd just met. "I don't like calling people 'him', 'her', 'that person', and 'this person'." He added.
"Well, you already know I'm Josh." Josh reintroduced himself properly with a smile, one that was actually friendly rather than the lustful mishmash of earlier.
"And I'm Milky." Milky followed behind her friend, introducing herself to the Juggernaut.
Following up was the rest of the group, and John learned that in total, there were about seven succubi and incubi present. There was Josh and Milky, but there was also Kiki, Kat, Apple, and Ace.
Kiki was the one with the see-through dress, and Coco was the one with a skull on her shirt. The short, bubbly blond one was Apple, and Kat was actually one of the incubi, wearing what looked to be a sleaveless hoodie. The last one was Ace, who had a fade with a necklace consisting of an upside down cross.
"Now that the introductions are out of the way," Kat began, turning his gaze towards Verosika. "Would you like to actually record the song?"
Verosika rubbed her arm. She suddenly looked as if she were a little nervous. "I was thinking we could hang out first…" She admitted.
John rolled his eyes, though a smile was still apparent on his face as he rested a comforting hand on Verosika's shoulder. "Come on, Rose. We'll have all the time in the world to hang out when you get done." He assured. Verosika looked up at him for a moment, before she smiled.
"Alright."
Verosika gave John's hand a gentle squeeze while it was on her shoulder, before his hand slid off as she moved towards the door to the recording booth. The others moved over towards the window, Josh, Kiki, and Ace taking up positions at the controls while the rest simply stood in front of the window to watch.
On the other side of the glass, John could see Verosika grabbing a pair of headphones, placing them on her head as she took a seat in front of a microphone.
"You know, I'm glad you get to be here for this." Vortex said as he placed his hand on John's shoulder. John glanced over at Vortex.
"Why?" He couldn't help but ask curiously, though he knew there were obvious reasons.
"Because she wrote this song for you." Vortex responded, smiling up at John. "I'm sure of it."
Their attention was pulled back towards Verosika, and John watched Kat and Kiki fiddle with some of the buttons on the control panel. Having never actually been in a recording booth before, John admittedly had no clue what each and every one did.
To him, it was a bunch of fancy buttons.
However, his attention was quickly focused back on Verosika when he saw the way the lighting changed.
He could still see the twinge of nervousness on her face, and he eyes drifted in his direction. In response, John gave a reassuring smile, and an encouraging thumbs up. Verosika's face morphed into a smile of her own, before she let out a sigh.
"You ready, Verosika?" Kat asked, leaning down towards one of the microphones on the control panel.
After a few moments of hesitation, Verosika nodded.
"Let's do this."
Her voice came through the speakers that John was admittedly unsure of where they were placed. But to be fair, he wasn't exactly focused on trying to figure out where everything was in the room.
The sounds of a soft, easing beat began to echo through the booth, slow, and steady, and John had to admit, the beat wasn't that bad to listen to.
Admittedly, while he knew of what her content tended to consist of, John had pretty much forced himself to never listen to a single one of her songs during the past two years. So this was admittedly a… first, technically. Not his first time hearing her sing, but it was his first time having music to go with the lyrics.
"Dude, this feels so weird." John could hear Loona whisper to Vortex.
"Like the vibrations are flowing through you?" Vortex asked in response, a small smile on his face.
"Yeah."
The music quieted some, and John couldn't help his own anticipation when he saw Verosika visibly prepare herself. For the first time in two years, he'd hear her sing once again.
"It was a day like any other…"
The lyrics flowed from her lips with ease, and John couldn't help the small smile on his face, nostalgia filling him with fond memories as he heard her voice sing once more.
"Spending time with my brother…" Verosika's face looked to by a myriad of emotions as she sung, and John could pick out fondness as the most prominent of them all. "Then Dad came in, with you on his shoulders…"
Admittedly, John's eyes widened a little at the lyrics. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what she was singing about, at least not in this particular part. When Madrox had hauled him to Grundy's Plaza, the imp managed to actually get John up on his shoulders as best as he could and dragged him all the way back.
"I heard my name… I left the game… and then I saw you, out like boulder."
Next to him, John could hear Vortex chuckling, and he gave a quick glance towards the hellhound with a raised eyebrow.
"You're as big as a boulder." Vortex joked, and John couldn't help the chuckle that escaped himself in response.
"Fair."
"You were my best friend, in all of Hell! And I'll forever thank the day that you fell…"
John had only a second to smile at the heartfelt words Verosika sang, before the music picked up to a more intense pace. He'd listened to enough music in his life to know that he was listening to the chorus of the song.
"You made me smile, made me laugh, you comforted me when I cried! I'll always miss you by my side…"
John felt something claw at him at those particular lyrics. He had the feeling that when Verosika had written this song…
She had truly believed that he would never forgive her.
At one point… John believed that himself.
"Fell in love and threw it away, broke your heart, discarded that day! I messed it all up, for one little fling…"
"Broke your heart, took it all, like I was in a shopping mall! Now I only wish to hear you sing…"
John couldn't help the sadness, the shame that welled within him at those particular lyrics. He could decipher every bit of it.
Verosika had realized what she'd done long ago… and she regretted it deeply.
John couldn't help but wish he'd talked to her sooner. And he couldn't help but feel like a hypocrite in the process… because he was the one who had pretty much refused to so much as acknowledge her in the past two years.
"You gave me a chance! Gave me your love! Made me the happiest woman in Hell!"
"Then I took it for granted, tossed it away… I rang the forbidden bell…
"Look at her eyes…"
Loona's words shook John from his focused trance, and he turned to glance at her. "Huh?"
"Her eyes…" Loona said once more, before glancing towards John. "She's crying."
At her words, John's head snapped back towards Verosika in the other room, intently studying her face, and he couldn't help the surprise on his own.
Loona was right.
Small tears were slowly crawling down her face, her eyes clenched tight, and John was beginning to wonder, even with the fact they'd made up, how much the regret, the shame, was eating at her.
"I betrayed you… I hurt you… I tossed your feelings aside…"
Internally, John realized she was beginning the second verse of the song. And he couldn't help but wonder…
If she was only halfway through the song and she was already crying… what did the rest of the song hold?
"Now I hate it… I regret it… I'll always miss you by my side…"
The words rolled off her tongue like silk, and John couldn't help the multitude of feelings welling up inside him, most of them conflicting with each other. Pride, joy, sadness, hurt, regret… all of them, colliding atop him all at once.
No longer was he paying attention to the beat, the actual instruments of the music playing… now, he was focused completely and solely on Verosika.
"You were the one, the very best, I didn't know until too late…"
"Left you alone, never showed… filled you so full of hate…"
"Did she just-" Apple glanced over at Coco in surprise, and admittedly, she wasn't the only one. Varying looks of shock were present on the faces of everyone in the room at the audible sound of a quiver in Verosika's voice, her breath hitching as she recounted her greatest regret.
John watched as Verosika took what look like a second or two to steady her nerves, her emotions, before she once again sang the chorus.
"You made smile, made me laugh, you comforted me when I cried, I'll always miss you by my side…"
I fell in love and threw it away! Took your heart, discarded that day! I messed it all up, for one little fling…"
"Broke your heart, took it all, like I was in a shopping mall! Now I only wish to hear you sing…"
As Verosika sang the chorus once more, John tried to take the time to gather his thoughts, recompose them.
But Verosika's next lyrics… they hit him in a way that struck him deep.
The music slowed to it's steady tempo once more, growing quieter in spite of the fact that Verosika's voice still seemed to go on, loud and… well, not proud, but that was the phrase.
"I found the bottle, fell down the hole. I couldn't go without you anymore!"
"I pushed everyone away, like they're mold. Felt like a nothing more than a whore…"
Suddenly, Verosika suddenly grew quiet, and though John was unsure if they'd be able to even use this take because of the audible noises, that wasn't his prime concern right now.
No, that spot belonged to the stiffled sobs Verosika was currently emitting, which could be heard the through the mic.
"And all I can say… I'm sorry…"
I'm Sorry.
Those two words weren't sang, didn't go along with a beat that was nonexistant at the moment… they were pure and honest, spoken straight from her heart. She was spilling out her regrets, and she was begging for forgiveness in a way John has never heard before.
He wasn't sure what the right move was, as bad as it sounded. A part of him thought it might anger her, but a larger part of him was fighting against that fear with the instict to march inside and comfort Verosika as best as he could for a sin he'd already forgiven.
"We've never seen her like this…" Josh could be heard whispering, looking at Verosika in complete shock.
"I don't think she's ever shown herself this openly before." Kiki muttered under he breath, but John heard it all the same.
It took a few moments, but the music suddenly fired back up full force as Verosika began sanging the chorus one last time.
"You made smile, made me laugh, you comforted me when I cried, I'll always miss you by my side…"
I fell in love and threw it away!Took your heart, discarded that day! I messed it all up, for one little fling…"
"Broke your heart, took it all, like I was in a shopping mall! Now I only wish to hear you sing…"
The song didn't end with a drawn out note or fading music. The song ended with that last line. A quiet, not so well hidden plea. A desperate begging for some sort of sign.
A sign of forgiveness.
"And that's it." Kat's voice could be heard as he pressed a button. "We got the song."
At that confirmation, nearly everyone in the room, gave words and noises of surprise when John suddenly pushed past them all, gunning it straight for the door that seperated the rooms and throwing it open with a grunt.
No one paid any attention to the now mangled doorknob, simply choosing to watch.
It was as if Verosika didn't even hear John enter. Once the song was over, she'd simply buried her face into her hands and let all her emotions spill freely, not caring who saw her anymore.
"Rose…" Vortex's voice was laden with sympathy for his cousin. This was the second time in two years that Vortex had seen her let her emotions free, instead of bottling them up or numbing them with alcohol.
And it didn't hurt him any less watching it now than it did the first time.
"This is actually sad." Loona's voice was a quiet whisper, her ears flat against her head as her tail folded itself between her legs.
"We're supposed to be her friends…" Milky muttered as the group watched John crouch down next to Verosika and pull her close to him, causing the succubus to turn and bury her face into his chest, tugging his shirt in her hands. "But did any of us actually care why she drank so much? As long as she was fun…"
Looks of guilt and sadness could be seen on the faces of all the incubi and succubi watching the scene, because they realized Milky was right. They all did care for Verosika, she wasn't just a coworker… but none of them cared about why she seemed to be such a drunk. Just that she was fun to be around.
Even Vortex couldn't help the guilt on his own face. As bad as she'd thrown herself into the bottle, cocked a bitchy attitude…
It had honestly never occured to him that it might just be a coping mechanism. That she was hurting.
And here he was, sitting on his ass while he watched John comfort Verosika with gentle rubs and soothing words.
It had admittedly taken some time for everyone to come to terms with what had just happened with the song, and most of them had decided to simply leave the couple be, choosing instead to step outside to the parking lot after Vortex quickly informed the couple.
Silence rang over all of them, as not a single soul was sure of what to say.
The site of the usually fiery and confident Verosika Mayday breaking down over the course of a recording session was an extremely surreal experience, even for Loona, who didn't often talk to the popstar herself as much as she did Vortex.
No one was even sure where to start. What to say, how to even have such a conversation.
Until Josh spoke up.
"It's official. We're a bunch of assholes." He spoke out abruptly, recieving nods of agreement at his words.
"I mean, this is hell, drinking isn't exactly something that's actually frowned on down here." Coco remarked with a sigh. "But I guess it should've occured to us in some capacity, with how heavily she drank."
"How do you think I feel?" Vortex spoke, his voice a low grumble as his own irritation with himself pretty much leaked into his words. "I've known her since she was a kid, knew what happened… and I didn't think for a second that she might be hurting." He said with a sigh.
"Come on, Tex, that kind of thinking isn't the way to go." Kiki muttered, gently rubbing her head as she tried to think of something to help the hellhound feel a little better. "You can't change the past."
"I know." Vortex replied with a sigh. "But it's hard not to think about that. If I'd just paid attention, thought about it for a second-"
"If this, if that, doesn't change anything, man." Kat said with a shake of his head. "Fact of the matter is, no one noticed."
"You didn't meet her till after she was a drunk." Vortex retorted with a shake of his head. "What's my excuse?"
"To be fair, it doesn't sound like she gave any indication." Loona spoke up, her voice quiet. "A lot of people feel it best to hide their issues than to confront them."
That particular bit of wisdom from the relative newcomer of the group was admittedly unexpected, and no one was really sure how to respond to that.
Silence took over he group of people once more.
"Well, now we know." Apple spoke up, the woman holding a rare expression of resolve and promise on her face. "We may not be able to change the past, but we can damn sure be there for her in the future."
"Got that right." Ace said, standing to his feet from his position on the ground, stretching his arms a little as he did so.
Vortex nodded. "From this point on, we actually show her that we care." He said, his tone firm, holding a promise within it. "We help her, like the friends and family we should've been."
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the doors opening, and they all turned towards it to see who had exited the building.
They were surprised to see John exiting the building, alone, with Verosika nowhere in site.
"John?" Vortex asked, stepping towards the behemoth, concern and confusion evident on his face.
John glanced towards Vortex, before shaking his head. "She said she wanted to be alone for a little bit." He answered the unsaid question on everyone's mind. "I think she just needs a little time to gather her thoughts. She said that was the first time she really poured her heart out in front of all of you."
"Yeah, it is." Ace confirmed the behemoth's words. "How… How is she?"
John let out a sigh as he leaned against the building, crossing his arms as he averted his gaze to the ground. "Hurt… regretful…" He muttered out in response. "It's like she can't get it out of her head. Most of the time in there was just her saying she's sorry…"
"She really regrets it." Vortex nodded, bringing his hands to his face as he joined John in leaning against the building, allowing himself to slide down till his rear was planted on the ground. "I think it's eating her up more than we think."
"Two years." John spoke with a shake of his head, bringing his hand to his forehead in frustration. "God only knows how much of it was her beating herself up. She's in a bad place… and it'll take a while to fix it."
"She's so used to hating herself." Loona whispered, tugging her knees closer to her chest from her position on the ground next to a large black van. "It's probably all she can think about when she's alone, when she's not distracted."
John barely moved his head, but his eyes locked on Loona at those words, taking them in, before he shook his head.
"God damn… if only I would've… just… GRAH!"
Nearly everyone jumped out of there skins at the sudden action, as John suddenly spun to face the wall, driving his fist into it and shattering the bricks with terrifying ease.
Vortex was on his feet in an instant, placing a hand on John's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. "John, it's not your fault." He said, looking at his brother with sad eyes.
"Two fucking years, Vortex…" John's voice was a quiet whisper, his head dropping so that he was facing the ground, his eyes clenched shut, his teeth gritted in frustration with himself, for the whole situation. "All I had to do was have a conversation… and all I did was hate."
"John, you weren't in the wrong there." Vortex reasoned with him. "You were hurt, and angry, and for good reason. None of it was your fault."
John was silent for a moment, before a hollow chuckle escaped him as he shook his head. "Logically, I know that." He admitted, leaning his head into the wall. "My head knows the truth, but the part of me that loves her… most of me, really… I can't help the guilt."
"John…"
John finally stood up straight, and turned his gaze towards Vortex. "I may not be to blame, Tex, but can you look me in the eye and tell me that things wouldn't be different, wouldn't be better, if I'd just talked to her?" He asked the hellhound a steady gaze.
Vortex opened his mouth, ready to respond to the question, but nothing came out. Instead, he simply stopped, his mouth hanging open as his thoughts swarmed him.
Because even though he truly believed that none of it was really John's fault…
The honest part of him knew… John had a point. Vortex couldn't deny it.
If he'd simply said something, talked to her, showed that he still cared maybe, on some level, then… he believed Verosika's head would be in a better place right now.
And he couldn't help the soul-crushing guilt that hit him at the realization, only strengthened by John's snort.
"That's what I thought." He said with a sigh and another shake of his head.
"We can't change the past." Apple suddenly spoke, catching the attention of the two, as well as everyone else, as she looked at John with a stern gaze. "Feeling sorry or guilty for what happened won't change anything. Ace and Kiki said it best. The best thing we can do is be there for Verosika."
The moment of seriousness from the usually bubbly and joyful succubus was admittedly a bit jarring, even to John and Loona, but they all only looked shocked for a moment, before they found themselves agreeing with her.
"She's right." Josh said with a nod. "We need to focus on helping her, being there for her. Not why she's in this position." He said firmly. "I can't speak for you all, but I want to know the one called Rose Mayday, instead of the popstar Verosika."
The group all murmured their own words of agreement, their care for their friend far more prominent than Vortex or John had expected, and they were both grateful for it.
Once more, a silence fell over the group.
One thing they all knew though…
Verosika wouldn't have to feel alone again.
With most of the hotel staff occupied, Vanessa had found some time to once more immerse herself in the world of Harry Potter. She'd had her nose in the book for a good few hours now, pretty much left unbothered as most of the other Hotel occupants occupied themselves.
She'd taken up reading in the recreation room, since it wasn't used as often as you'd expect it to be. Now that she thought about it, the only people she'd ever seen use the room were the Hotel Staff and Angel. Outside of them, she hadn't seen any other soul in the Hotel use it.
But, she wouldn't complain. It was a little bit of free time she had to herself, and she was more than determined to actually finish this book, and in the process, the series.
She'd situated herself on the couch, leaning against one of the armwrests as she read while her legs were folded up next to her. Unconciously, she could feel her tail sticking up in the air, quietly waving itself back and forth.
Having a tail was… an experience, that was the best she could think of to describe it.
Having lived the first sixteen years of her life without a tail or horns, awaking in Hell with both had been a little jarring, but getting used to the horns had been easier than getting used to the tail.
Now she had to take into account the tail for her balance, and though she could conciously move it and control it, there were times when it seemed to have a mind of it's own.
And she'd learned the hard way when Val had her, that her tail was very sensitive.
She'd lost count of how many times the moth demon would snag her tail, step on it, or something of that nature just to get her attention or punish her for… for not being appealing to a customer.
It hurt. A lot.
But now she didn't have to worry about Val, or any of the three V's.
No, now the biggest bane of her existence was the occasional time where she'd somehow forget that 'Hey, I have a tail now!' and would accidently shut it in a door. It was like smashing your fingers.
Not fun.
But still far preferable to Val's grasp.
"I see you are enjoying your book!"
The familiar voice of Alastor cause Vanessa's gaze to leave her book, looking towards the opposite end of the couch, where Alastor stood, the familiar smile on his face as he eyed the succubus.
Vanessa actually smiled at the Radio Demon's presence, and sat up a little straighter as she slipped her bookmark in between the pages. "Hi, Alastor." She greeted the deer demon. "Again, thanks for the book."
"Not a problem at all, dear!" Alastor replied, moving around the armrest to take a seat on the unoccupied side of the couch. "I'm glad to see you are enjoying it! I find myself curious as to how far into the book you are." He admitted, raising an eyebrow at the succubus.
Vanessa couldn't help the way her own smile widened at Alastor's inquiry. "I've made it to halfway through the book!" She admitted with a rather excited tone. "I've been reading it the past few hours. I got some in last night after dinner before I went to bed, and of course when we first got back."
"My, you do love your books, don't you?" Alastor teased, his usual smile softening to a more amused one.
Vanessa nodded her head. "There are so many different stories out there, told in so many different ways." She said, situating herself so that she was sitting normally, setting the book in her hands down on the couch. "Books, games, movies… it's not so much that I love books. It's just that I love a good story." She explained to the Radio Demon.
Alastor nodded at her words. "I suppose that's fair." He told her, before shaking his head with a slight chuckle. "Me personally, I prefer books alone. I'm… not overly fond of most technology that's come out since my death, admittedly."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, and she couldn't help but to take the chance to jab at the Radio Demon. "Why's that? Because it's pointless or because you don't want to feel like an old man?" She teased.
Alastor's eyes actually widened at the jab, before he let out a chuckle, narrowing his eyes. "Oh, is that the game you're gonna play, my dear?" He asked, a small smirk on his face as he looked at the succubus.
Vanessa nodded. "Yep." She said, letting the P pop a little.
Alastor grinned, and brought his hand to his chest, a look of confidence on his face. "Why, I bet with a little practice, I could easily master some of todays newer forms of entertainment." He boasted.
Vanessa's eyes narrowed, and she took on a competetive grin of her own. "Right. You'd probably look like a lost child trying to figure out how to work a fricking Atari controller, let alone a Playstation."
"Oh?" Alastor's grin widened, and he leaned a little closer to Vanessa, his entire face full of challenge. "Care to put you're money where your mouth is?"
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, but the grin was still on her face. "What did you have in mind?"
"Hook up one of those new fancy… video game systems, that's what they are called, right? I bet I could figure out how to operate it and play them with ease." Alastor replied, a confident smirk on his face.
"A bet?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I'm game. What happens if I win?"
"If you win, I'll spend an entire day watching those picture shows on the television with you." Alastor responded, looking at Vanessa with a grin, before smirking. "But, when I win, you will have to swear off any modern forms of entertainment for a whole month. Just books."
Vanessa thought it over in her head for a moment, going over the terms of the bet. They didn't seem too bad, and it wasn't like she was going to go stir crazy sticking to books for a month.
But then again, it wasn't like she was going to lose anyway. This was Alastor she was talking to.
"You sound a little sure of yourself." Vanessa grinned, eyeing Alastor with an amused gaze, before offering her hand to the Radio Demon. "You're on."
Alastor grinned, before reaching his own hand towards the succubus.
Almost immediately, a massive swarm of green colored energy encircled Alastor's hand, lighting up everything in view with a dark green glow.
Vanessa's eyes went wide at the unexpected action, and on instict, she almost immediately yanked her hand away, causing Alastor to frown in confusion as he suddenly found himself gripping nothing but air.
"What is that?" Vanessa asked curiously as the glow died down.
Alastor raised an eyebrow at her question, before his eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "Oh, my apologies. I forgot that you haven't been in Hell that long." He admitted with a small chuckle. "That, my dear, was the power of deal making."
"Deal making?" Vanessa asked in confusion.
Alastor nodded. "You see, all demons in Hell, from Lucifer himself to that of the lowest sinner, and even Imps and Hellhounds, have the ability to make deals, whether with each other or with that of creatures upon the living world." He explained to the succubus. "However, actually not everyone uses the power regularly, or even knows they have it, because some of them feel they have nothing to offer."
"Oh…" Vanessa nodded, understanding what Alastor was saying. "And it's more of a solid way to make deals? Even little bets like ours?"
"Indeed!" Alastor nodded with a smile. "The power to make deals doesn't actually require having something to offer. More than anything, it simply binds the participants to their words."
"So…" Vanessa said slowly, looking at Alastor to make sure she was understanding it right. "Basically, when we shake hands, we'll have no choice but to follow our word?"
"Precisely!" Alastor nodded with a smile.
Vanessa looked at Alastor for a moment, before nodding. "Okay… let's do it!"
Alastor grinned at her words, before offering his hand to her once more, his hand once again giving of an aura of immense energy.
Vanessa eyed the hand for a moment, before raising her own.
Her eyes widened when a flare of magenta colored fire seemed to coat her entire hand. Compared to Alastor's energy swirl, it was nothing more than a small lighter, but Vanessa wondered if that was more because of the fact that if she was correct, Alastor had made many deals over his lifetime.
Slowly, Vanessa reached out and gripped Alastor's hand.
The moment their hands intertwined with each other, the fire upon Vanessa's hand spread to Alastor's as the green energy of Alastor's own seemed to suddenly swarm around Vanessa's hand as well.
It was a site, Vanessa had to admit, watching what seemed to be the energies binding together.
And then… it was over.
Just like that.
Physically, Vanessa didn't feel any different, and she couldn't help but speak her thoughts.
"That was… anti-climactic." She remarked as her hand fell away from Alastor's, the two of them pulling their hands back to their sides.
Alastor let out a chuckle. "We are simply binding ourselves to our words, Vanessa." He reminded her with an amused shake of his head. "It's not as if this is anything like the deals I usually make."
And just like that, Vanessa was reminded of what kind of person Alastor usually was. Key word being usually.
"Okay…" She said slowly, before her face took on a competetive grin as she stood to her feet, looking at Alastor. "Now, get ready to suck at video games!"
"Oho, I think you'll find that I can learn them easier than you think!" Alastor fired back at the succubus.
Although admittedly, even he was unsure how he'd been suckered into actually giving these… video games a try. But, it seemed to bring Vanessa out of her shell even further.
And that was something Alastor was fine with.