Present from the past
Loona attends Verosika's birthday, and brings her a present, from Blitz.
Mainly told from Loona's point of view.
Rated T for language and some adult themes.
A warm wind met her face, and the little succubus inhaled deep of the Sloth Ring woodlands,
her head filling with blooming flowers, fresh moss and wet leaves.
She turned around,
her brother was chasing a small squirrel,
their mother, rubbing her big belly,
reminding him they had to leave soon,
a thin man next to a wooden table waved at the little girl,
and she couldn't contain her glee as she sprinted towards him,
a smile dominating her face, and her whitepink hair,
that she shared with the man trailing behind her like the tail of a comet
"Popa! Popa!"
he held out his skinny arms to lift up the excited girl,
and for a moment, even the bags beneath his eyes seems invigorated,
his open mouth a smile as he begins to answer-
A few sharp knocks on the door dispelled the dream, and her eyes shot open and she bolted up, and her head hit the table with a bonk.
"OW!" Verosika rubbed the sore spot "Fuck!"
"Hey, language!"
Verosika cringed as she recognized the voice "Sorry Sas" she managed to groan whilst wrapping herself in her bathrobe. She squinted as the lights were turned on, and pair of hands grabbed her by the arms "Morning sis" the burly male succubus pulled her up "Fell asleep on the kitchen floor huh?" Verosika groaned as she was placed in a chair "I was pre-celebrating Sas"
Her brother held up a bottle, its' contents sloshing merrily "You'll normally empty these" he sighed and gave her the look "Where's the rest?"
A shrug was all he got "Okay, how's coffee then?"
Verosika lit up and pointed at the sink "You mind? I'm out of clean cups"
Sucka she smirked as Sastian washed china and cutlery whilst the pot boiled and whistled But I love the big lug, got popa's heart
"Aaaah!" the popstar smiled as the taste of stale wine was replaced with strong caffeine, it's scent so bitter it burnt the residue of sour grapes out of her nostrils "Thanks, I needed that"
"You also need to change-" Sastian tugged at her bathrobe and sniffed the air "And a shower. Two actually"
"Please" Verosika turned to the door where Kiki had appeared, with the most beautiful thing she'd seen all day, a big bag of pastries "Kiks!" she grabbed the bag "And you brought food!"
"… Morning boss" she smiled at Sas and batted her eyelids "Gooooood morning"
"Keep your pants on Kiks"
"Yeah, my girl will be over later" Sas winked "You can drop 'em when the kids are sleeping"
Wolfing down a croissant the host tuned out her brother's preparations for a threeway What a dream…my fourth birthday I think… her tone turned sour and regretful Why'd I show that spot to fuckface? It was all lost on him! Everything was.
"Kiks" Verosika sipped her coffee and the look in here eyes and whiplike tone made Kiki straighten up immediately "Who's coming again?"
"Uh" Kiki looked at the list "Right invites, President Gaap declined-"
"Good" the popstar nodded and noticed Sastians' confused expression "He'd freak out the other guests, and it'd be impolite not to invite him"
"Madame Rosie couldn't come either" Kiki breathed a sigh of relief "Something about a goetia king wanting some highend stuff"
"Too bad" the birthday girl sighed and kept munching in her croissant "She'd have brought something extra to the party"
"Seriously" Sastian smirked at her "Why do you want her to come?"
"I love Petals! She's like the big sister I never had" Verosika leaned on one arms as she spilled crumbs on the table "OR cool aunt!"
"Sianca's a cool aunt"
Verosika shook her head ", Nope, doesn't count" she paused to swallow "Who can be cool and collect tiny teddybears made of china?" Popa always got her a new one on her birthday…
Sastian didn't have a respond immediately, only studying Verosika wipe her eye with the back of her hand "Hey Kiks"
"Yeah?"
"How about we get to decorating and preparing the food?" he pursed his lips at the popstar "Sis needs breakfast to get rid of the grumpy girl state"
"Sure"
Verosika finished the first croissant and reached for the next, the crunch almost shutting out the thoughts in her head, but not completely, and she once more wiped her eyes in the vain hope it'd make the stinging go away I could almost hear his voice again…
(Afternoon that day, same location, Verosica's appartment)
Chocolate cake, thick, rich and dark enough to be illegal in the Sloth Ring.
With high quality orange-honey frosting, strong, sweet and bitter. She could smell it two stories down, and it only became more prevalent as she entered on the 6th floor of the building.
That and booze.
And quite a few kinds too, Wrath Ring moonshine, bloodwine, seaserpent tequila, scabbeer, and naturally more Beelzejuice, no doubt a gift from Bee.
Loona was already looking forward to it, her stomach demanding more than her midnoon sixpack. Sniffing the air again however, she was puzzled that there was also something carbonated in the air "Cola?"
She shook her head and kept walking up the stairs, who the fuck broke the elevator anyway? She grumbled and finally arrived at the 6th floor I know she's cheap with cash Loona sighed But this is ridiculous. Elevators are supposed to work!
"Hey girl!" a familiar voice greeted her as she entered the passage properly, she instinctively waved back "Hey Tex" she cocked an eyebrow "Why're you out here? No room at the party? Bee bring a lot of extra guests?"
The larger Hellhound sighed "Nah she couldn't make it today, I'm escorting…"
"More like Hounding me out!" a tall sinner demon stepped out from behind the bulkier hellhound. Said sinner reached Vortex to the collar, was dressed in a sharp suit, straight from the most expensive fashion designer in Gluttony, which hugged his thin but somewhat muscular frame tightly. His face was marred by a scowl and deep scratches in the green skin revealed the muscles underneath "And without any reason too!" he looked at the door "Girl really should be happier to see me"
"Wow" Loona looked at the sinner "Ripper Snippet? For real?!"
"The famous producer" Snippet puffed out his chest with a smug smile "The one and only" he snapped his fingers "The Father of a Thousand hits the last 200 years, and 10 times that in stars owing me fo-" the sinners' bragging was stopped when a roar erupted from the apartment door, threatening to blow out all three demons' eardrums
"GET-THAT-PIECE-OF-ROTTEN-BULLSHIT-OUT-OF-HERE!"
Snippet scoffed "Chick Stars" he left for the elevator "They're all high and mighty even when they know they need me"
He waved at Vortex before the doors closed "Be a good doggy and tell her to call me when she's off her period" he smiled and rubbed his groin "I know the perfect way she can apologize" the smug smile made Loona cringe as the elevator went down.
"Great, he's a creep too"
"A lot in the industry is" Vortex whispered to her "So how're things?"
"What's up with the elevator? it wouldn't come down"
The hellhound rubbed the back of his neck and pursed his lips "Yeah, it can lock sometimes" he held out a remote "But it can be let loose" he pressed a button and there was a whoosh from the elevator, followed by Ripper's startled scream the elevator came to a screeching halt near ground level, and they could hear the sinner slam into the botton like a sack of potatoes, pained curses erupting from his mouth.
Loona nodded approvingly "I want one. There's soooo many clients that needs to fuck off" she let out a tired groan "Blitz got it into his head we should offer another half-off job for certain humans"
"Police or politicians?"
Loona struggled with the unfamiliar word "In-seu-we-ran-ce or something" Loona growled "43 jobs in two hours"
"Yikes"
"Yep, next week it's bankers and telemarketers"
"Anything else?"
They'd gotten into the apartment, soft music filling it, paper decorations and party hats abound, and drink "Well…" Loona lowered her voice slightly so the other guests wouldn't hear "Blitz's been giving it to the bird a lot this week for some reason" she shrugged and fought to keep herself from vomiting, her dad hooking up with the ditzy pervy idiot was bad enough, but on a frequent basis, it was downright disgusting "Said he needed to stock up on a favor"
She held up a box "He asked me to give Verosika this and let her open it when she was alone, so I'm guessing it's something weird and nasty"
"Might not be that bad" Vortex flashed her a smirk "It'll get buried in all the nice things she's gotten" he pointed at a table, piled high with boxes "Dresses from that colony overlord, a box of wine from Succ Inc, a coupon for a week of free meals at Gaap's" he snickered "And if she also accepts his offer of freelance work, it could be months" Loona's ears piped up "Isn't that the place where she couldn't drink?" Vortex nodded "I guess she's not taking the job then"
"She'll always need the money" he smirked "And she's already agreed to dinner"
"With who?" Loona followed him into the apartment, but her nose already told her part of the answer "Sastian's here"
"And his girlfriend" Vortex pointed at a succubus with curly hair, who was smacking a silverhaired succubus over the head "And their kids, so don't use too bad words"
Loona looked dumbfounded at the other hellhound for a fraction of a second before hearing the distinct sound of Verosika protesting and someone forcing something that smelled like soap into her mouth "…Got it"
On the couch the posse grew tense as soon as they noticed Loona was there too. Biting off a few guys' arms and legs would do that and backed away nervously. Others had the exact different reaction "And who is this?" a curly haired succubus cooed warmly at Loona, while she wiped the soap off her hands "I thought you said your girlfriend had work today Tex?" she smirked teasingly at the larger hellhound.
"I'm not Bee" Loona held up both hands and hoped she wasn't blushing "Just a friend"
"Aha…" the succubus flashed her a smile "Haze Springweek, and you?"
Before she could answer, the host appeared "Loona? You're here!" Verosika gave her a surprised smile, teeth gleaming as if they'd just been brushed "I was so sad you weren't here from the start" she waved a hand at the guests "I honestly thought your dad made you do extra chores or something"
"Blitz's been busy, he's too beat to even spy on fatty and his wife, or get on my nerves" Loona held up a poorly wrapped box "But…" she drew in a short breath through clenched teeth this is gonna suck "He still asked me to get you this"
Verosika's smile turned into a scowl on record time "Did he?"
"And said you should open it when you're alone"
Verosika eyed the gift suspiciously "Tex?"
"I'm not a bomb dog"
"There's no weapon or explosive in it" Loona sighed and shrugged "Not even fireworks or… anything that's even been alive, or been through a body" she folded her arms "Doesn't smell like it at all" she stopped herself from saying anymore Stinks of regret and stress though, LA go home!
Before Loona could continue explaining what else wasn't in the gift, two loud voices vent:
"Aunty!"
"Aunty V!"
Haze immediately grabbed a pair of young succubi, a tween and a kid, either looking like smaller versions of Haze and Verosika (though shorter hair and no curves), and prevented them from tackling Verosika.
"Angelisa, Siana, what do you think you're doing?"
"Giving aunty V a hug mommy!" the smallest responded and evaded their mother's arms, and pulled at Verosika's skirt "Are you better now?"
"Yeah, we heard you shout and mom dragged you off for medicine" the tween chimed in and looked to Haze "Why'd you wave the toilet brush around?"
"To make a point Angelisa" Haze stopped Siana from tearing anymore at Verosika's skirt "And Aunty V got it" the look she sent the popstar was one of a gentle order.
"My nieces" Verosika looked at the two girls with a small sliver of fond pride "Impossibly to hold down even with chains" she leaned closer to Loona "And we've tried"
Behind them, Vortex mumbled "That's why we're still sober"
Loona nodded in understanding when the two kids discovered the newcomer, and their eyes immediately lit up "So pretty!"
Verosika put the gift down on the table, eyeing it suspiciously, before she moved to save Loona from Siana and Angelisa, the former swinging from the hellhounds' arm while the latter gushed over how soft her tail and hair were. Much to the shock of the posse, Loona had yet to snap at the younger girls, even when Siana pulled at her top.
"…She can be nice?!"
"I'm scared"
"So you got to be a kid to touch huh? Ouch!"
"Don't jinx it Josh! And if you try to come on to her through those kids, I swear-"
"V would rip me a new one Mayberry!" the silverhaired succubi rubbed his ear "I'm not crazy"
While Verosika buzzed around to attend her guests, a small set of hands moved a box of lingerie (From Asmodeus with love), some intimate soap (Fizzie says hi) and a discarded contract (You can make moneys with me, Wally Wackford!) and grabbed the most poorly wrapped box and pulled at it tentatively.
The smallest of the succubi, Milky, ran a ssharp fingernail through some of the wrapping as silently as she could.
Scratching her chin, the l examined the thing she pulled from the box. It'd been wrapped in some old newspapers that'd been crumbled up, and as soon as she'd gotten the little thing out, she looked perplexed at the small dark squarish piece of plastic.
That was, until the tallest succubus snatched it from her hands "What the fuck is this shit?" the other succubi ceased talking and looked at Milky who planted her hands on her hips.
"It's an eight track tape Ace" the smallest succubus explained "It's the shit they used before CD's"
"You mean…" Ace's eyes lit up "V's ex sent her a mixed-tape?"
Instantly, the other succubi's expressions changed from confusion to scheming surprise "We got to hear this!"
"I'm on it" the smallest succubus pulled out her phone "I know exactly-" she held up the tape "What to do with this thing! And we'll be able to put that jerk on blast for weeks!"
Her scheming glee was shortlived.
"Milky, what are you doing?" the succubi froze and slowly turned to look at the birthdaygirl, glaring down at them whilst tapping her foot impatiently, her eyes darting from the table to the tape "Was that in the box from Blitzo?"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it" Milky gave Verosika the old puppy eyes "It just fell out of the package" the popstar took one look at the torn wrapping paper and grimaced at the smaller succubus.
"Right, fell" the popstar raised her eye brows, but then smiled predatorially "If Blitzo has sent a mixed tape, then get on with it, I want to know how bad it is"
(later)
"Okay, I think I got this" Milky explained "Been a while since I got to use a tape recorder" she looked at Kiki "How'd you get this anyway? I couldn't get one from the tech shops"
"Oh" the reed thin succubus waved it off "Pringle's boss doesn't use his so…" she smiled "And Princess Octavia was all ready to help" Kiki gave Verosika a meaningful look and giggled "After I'd explained the situation" she held up a card "Here's her present for you btw, she couldn't give it in person, something about her grandfather dropping by"
Verosika's mood changed when she pulled out the check "I can forgive that, But I guess I'll have to give her a private concert one day" she looked at Loona "Or take her shopping"
Giving her a thumbs up, Loona smiled "Wanna spend it in one go huh? Via loves Stylish Occult"
"What a coincidence" Verosika stuffed the check down between her breasts "So do I"
"Hey, I've gotten it to work!" Milky pumped a fist into the air "Two seconds and we'll be hearing cheapskate singing" she gave Loona a worried look "No offence, but your dad sound like his voice didn't leave puberty and is hungover most of the time"
A common scene flashed before Loona's eyes, the look of Blitz preparing her breakfast, baby-voice when he served it and the proud smile when he greeted her and then tried to give her a hug "Try living with him"
"Shush, it's playing"
Immediately the tape player erupted into a fresh and pleasant keyboard melody, before it quickly moved on to preppy, pop bordering on techno.
"Oh no…" Sastian's whole body slumped as his voice turned despondent "He didn't…"
Hearing Verosika's outburst, no one doubted that Blitzo had indeed done it.
"That rotten, sniveling, smelly, limpdicked, cowardly, dirty, ratfaced, idiotic, lily-livered, mongrel, no good son of a donkey and a cherub-"
"Oh he really did it this time" Ace shook his head as he watched their boss rant on about her ex's flaws (and they were legion) with wide eyes "Seriously he wanna start a WAR?"
"Yeah, everyone knows she hates Snippet" Kat nodded "Dunno why though"
"It's worse" Mayberry added "He knew. And he still pushed that button"
Every single demon wondered how a world war could be started just by hearing a song.
Tilting her head at the stereo, Milky blinked "Weren't they supposed to start singing now?"
"Hey you're right" Josh nodded "Its' Snippet's trademark, he can't not sing in the first ten seconds"
A shift in the music made everyone blink, as if the wrong note had been played, then it happened again, as if the musician was trying to catch the tune again, and failed, miserably.
"He didn't even get a real cd, but some crappy copy?" Apple groaned and Coco nodded annoyed "Seriously, this is a new low, even for him"
Meanwhile the notes kept getting evermore wrong, until an exasperated voice went "Aaaaaaaaaww crumbs!" and then "Limpdicked shitfuck!" the musician could almost be heard slump with his arms hanging down loosely, voice turning ever more despondent and frustrated "Heaven in a hollybush!"
More than one eyebrow in the audience was raised in confusion while the tape played, everyone knew that wasn't the imps' voice, it was too… nice, in a sort of pitiful way.
But they were also confused over the birthday girl's reaction to it. Verosika stood still looking at the cassette player with a stunned expression, anger and righteous fury forgotten, swept away by some emotional tidal wave that few understood. Sastian reacted just like his little-sister, with the addition of his chip filled mouth hanging open, its' content sluggishly raining down on the floor.
"Okay…" the voice went soothing, trying to calm himself "Keep it together Sudwig, it's just a wrong note….it's just a wrong…."
"Sudwig?!"
A glare from Verosika made the succubi cringe and fall silent, which was the opposite of what Sudwig was doing "FUCK ME WITH A SHREDDERHORNED IMP IN A SANDPAPER TUXEDOOOO!"
Heavy breathing followed, and then Sudwig counted to 10, then silence, then "FUCK!" and Sudwig was back to counting.
"Seriously what's this about?" Loona ignored the glares she was getting "Why'd Blitz send you this" both Verosika and Sastian remained silent, only shushing the hellhound into silence while Haze did her best to distract her daughters from hearing any of the bad words.
"Okay…" the cassette continued to play "Calm down now Sudwig, this isn't the end of the world…. Only your career if Snippet doesn't get this soon…" he breathed heavily "Think of the kids… lil Sastian, Verosika and… whatever we're gonna name the third… if he… or she, is mine…"
All eyes went from the player to the two succubus siblings, some in anticipation, others in confusion. Josh was trying not to smile, Coco was outright smiling, Mayberry was holding a hand over Kat's mouth to stop him from asking stupid questions "What's this mea-" Apple's voice was immediately muffled by Kiki, while Coco shot Ace a warning glare, making him shut his trap immediately.
It went on for a while, Sudwig trying to play the tune right and gradually getting it right, thought continually cursing and counting when things went wrong.
That all changed when he started playing another piece, a happy little simple tune, which gradually became more and more soulful.
His laughter almost became infectious "That's the stuff!" everyone envisioned some thin guy grinning from ear to ear as his hands played across the keys, a dance fusion of tango and river dance, which he somehow made work "I got to play this for the kids tonight!"
And with that the tape ended.
The entire apartment blinked a few times
Loona stood still as the popstar took a deep breath.
"Tell your dad…" Verosika swallowed and gritted her teeth "Nothing" she breathed and blinked a few times "About this"
"He knows you've gotten it"
"Blitz doesn't need to know anything"
"…that's literally not what I said" the female hellhound "He already knows"
The popstar shook her head, lips pressed tightly together "You won't tell him anything"
"Well, you mind telling if you liked it?"
"NO." the succubus pressed the answer out through gritted teeth, though it felt more like a command to herself than a proper response "No Way I could, he doesn't know me at all."
Distracted by Verosika's reaction, Loona almost attacked when Sastian gave her a tight hug that threatened to break her ribs. She stopped herself when he began to cry like a baby "Dell Bweetz, id's de besd gifd 'e could evvur giiib uuuuuus!"
Uncomfortably, Loona patted the succubus' back as his girlfriend hugged him soothingly.
"Sorry" Sastian wiped his eyes "But we haven't heard dad's voice in years"
Haze smiled and patted his shoulder, and shot Verosika a judging look, but didn't say anything. Neither did anybody else really and the party turned silent.
Until
"I need a drink"
The words escaped the partygirls' mouth as part of a deep sigh, and she hurried to wipe her eyes and flash her guests a confident smile.
And that was enough, the posse practically jumped at the opportunity to escape the awkwardness, starting to talk about sports, the newest gangwar, which were better, Wackdonalds or Gaap's? Or other small talk that would happen amongst hell's denizens (When they were desperately trying to distract themselves). Though each really wanted to know what was going on inside the birthday girl's head at that moment.
But everyone knew it was best not to test the popstar for one tell tale reason:
She had picked up a cocktail, and had not even sipped it yet.
Her posse collectively shivered and redoubled their efforts.
(Later, after the party has ended)
Looking down at the glass, Verosika raised an eyebrow Has this gone flat? She sniffed the tall glass Yep, almost as flat as Fizzarolli's jokes, good thing him and Ozzie could make it.
She looked around. While she'd never heard of mindreaders in hell, it didn't hurt to be on guard. Goetia could do all sort of things, same with overlords. The images of Gaap and Verosika's old friend Rosie flashed before her eyes, one annoyingly, the other with a hint of rose water and bittersweet joy. And she remembered that Ozzie was notoriously protective of his business partner.
I really got to meet up with Petals more often she looked at the black dress the Cannibal Colony's ruler had gifted her and it's a perfect chance to wear this she smiled and ran her hand over the smooth fabric.
Drinks, dinners- the popstar couldn't help but pick up the dress and do a little pirouette in the floor, eyes closed reminiscing of how much fun she'd had in Rosie's company Drinks, Dinners, Dives and Dates… the smile faded and she opened her eyes.
And immediately blushed heavily when she realized that both her nieces were looking at her, flashing catlike smiles.
"Oh-oh, what're you two thinking now?"
"Nothing" both answered, as much as Verosika doted on them, when the two girls could answer her in unison, it was time to worry "HAZE"
"On it" the curly haired succubus pointed at the kitchen "Girls, I think Loona's not in the toilet anymore"
The two girls hurried off, small shrieks on their lips as they honed in on the female hellhound like a pair of stinger missiles.
"Some day huh?" Haze ran a hand through her curls "But it was nice meeting your coworkers, and their friends"
"What did you talk to Kat's chick about anyway?" Verosika fished out her hipflask "Can't imagine you'd have much in common"
Haze waved it off "She got open spots for personal tutoring"
An eyebrow rose on the popstar's face "…You're gonna send Ange and Sia to Imp City for school?"
"No." Haze smirked "Mayberry's set up this online thing like they got topside, makes teaching easier, and we don't have to drive there" she saluted with her mug "And she's affordable, so plus plus plus"
"What're the other plusses?"
"Human teachers goes to school first, and Mayberry's got experience"
"She also got a temper" Verosika gripped her hipflask tightly "And if she loses it on Sia and Ange…"
A hand on the popstars' shoulder made her stop "Chill V" Haze rubbed her cheek "My girls are great, and Mayberry's gonna be behind a screen almost a circle away, so no worries there"
Verosika grumbled and raised the flask, only to scowl when Haze stopped her "Focus honey, not on drowning your liver, but on family" she pointed at Angelisa and Siana who were swinging from Loona's arms again, the poor hellhound trying to not snap at them, which was very hard when Sastian was trying to check her ears for infection or new nicks.
"Should we save her?" Haze sounded worried "Two kids and their super dad might be too much"
"Better, Loona's got enough to deal with without Sass testing his vet skills"
"You talking about her dad?" Haze looked on as Verosika took a deep swig from her bottle "Yeah, it's her dad"
The two succubi approached the small group and heroically pried Sasstian away from the hellhound, who'd begun to snarl lowly at his attention "Okay girls, that's enough" Haze lifted up Angelisa "I'm sure Loona has places to be" she gave the hellhound an apologetic look.
"Yeah, Blitz is probably worried sick" Loona shrugged and did a playful snap at Siana "Your dad ever do shi-stuff like that? It's a pain"
"Does she have to go mama?"
"Loona's got her own life sweeties" Haze pulled her daughters close "It's okay to let go of friends, they're not lost" she smiled "So how about you say goodbye to coolie Loonie huh?"
Both girls hugged Loona close, a sentiment the temperamental hellhound actually reciprocated.
When the hellhound left, Verosika peppered her goodbye with an "Don't tell him anything" before shutting the door.
The apartment was surprisingly orderly now that the partygoers had left, Verosika chalked it up to Haze's discipline, no swearing when the girls were around, and you wouldn't taste soap for a week. The popstar had had far worse things in her mouth than cleaning products, and sometimes, they actually helped get rid of the flavour, and smell, of certain things.
Like Greed Ring streetfood, and the cheapest stomach medicine in Sloth.
"Aunty V" her nieces materialized next to her "What're we gonna do now?"
"Yeah" Siana chimed in "The fun has all left"
Smiling lovingly, the aunt looked at her nieces "Right" Verosika ruffled their heads "Angelisa, Siana, come here" she sat down with them in front of the old radio "How about we hear your granddad one more time?"
"Aunty, is this one of those cases where we don't have a choice?"
"It sure is Angelisa" Sastian appeared on the couch "And afterwards, I'm gonna tell you all about him"
Haze stood in the door, looking at the foursome as the cassette began to play again.
"Aunty?"
"Yes Siana?"
"Are you gonna tell us who gave you the tape?" the succubus looked pleadingly at Verosika "Tex said it was Loona's daddy"
"Yeah who's Bitso?"
The two girls looked worried at their aunt Verosika, whose face frozen into a stiff polite smile, behind which she was plotting how to fleabathe Tex for a week.
"… How about…" Sastian paused the cassette and looked imploringly at Haze who pursed her lips to avoid cracking a grin "We get some cocoa" he nodded frantically at his girlfriend "And then listen to grandpa again?"
"You both know this isn't over"
Pursing her lips and gritting her teeth, Verosika took a deep breath "You're too smart sometimes Angelisa"
"I know I am" the little succubus stuck out her chin pridefully, while Verosika looked on with a stiff smile.
"And I know that I'll only get you one present for your birthday"
"You wouldn't!" Angelisa's lip quivered, but Verosika's voice was firm "I will if you don't drop it"
The young succubus pouted before she sulkily sipped her cocoa. Her little sister Siana smirked mischievously "Aunty, can I pick Ange's prezend?"
Verosika smiled "Only if it's really embarrassing and cringey"
Siana looked innocently at Verosika with a giddy smile "Can we has Loona as a cousin?"
A minute later Sastian had to ground Siana and Angelisa for sassing Verosika that hardly,
while Haze confiscated Verosika's beelzejuice for using no-no words in front of little kids.
Epilogue:
Loona sniffed the air when she neared the door, and let out a sigh.
Ice, regret, painkillers, cheap booze, farts and buttered noodles with a single egg she shook her head Dad's home and watching TV.
As soon as she opened the door, the imp turned away from the screen to flash her a happy and relieved smile.
"Sweetie, you're back!" he waved at her "Did you have a good day?"
Loona gawked back at her adoptive father, the imp was sitting in a tub and judging from bags on the floor, was taking an ice bath.
"You're still sore?!" she fought not to gag.
"….I'm a bit numb right now" Blitz shrugged "And it's an improvement"
Loona went to the fridge "No need to know what you've been doing all day" she looked at the tv Bathing and those silly horse shows
"So…" Blitz began, looking from the TV to Loona, but hardly noticing the screen "Did she like it?"
Oh she liked it all right Loona scratched her ear, wondering if she should tell him, or keep quiet like Verosika wanted, fuck it, I can have it both ways "You know, I didn't see her open it"
"Oh…" the imps' chest deflated, and his oblong head sacked "That's okay Loony, sorry I had you take it" he flashed her a cocky smile "Bet the place reeked of old condoms and spilled booze too, best you don't spend time there" he took a swig of beer, cheap brand, but enough of it would have the same effect as absinthe.
Her dad smelled pretty much the same as he always did, regretful, boisterous, mournful, hungry after something Loona couldn't quite pinpoint, and, unsurprisingly given hooking up with Stolas several times the last few weeks, pampered feathers.
The one thing that was uncommon about him was that he smelled like he thought he did something right for a change.
And for free no less. She'd promised not to tell, but part of her really wanted to explain that Verosika had been grateful, in a way, for the thoughtful gift.
"Have you been in that ice water all day?" she folded her arms and tapped her paw on the floor "I swear, if you get a scold because of this, I'm gonna…"
"You don't know what it's like Loony" the imp grumbled and shuddered "Stolas can get some sick ideas…" he sighed "But sometimes… I got to go all in…"
Cringing at the mental image, Loona snatched a beer and downed it in one go before he could stop her "Was it that boring?" Blitz blinked at her "Have Verosika gone tame over the years?" scratching his chin, the imp shook his head and grimaced "I should've shut up huh?"
"Yeah" she snatched up another "That'd be best sometimes"
The water sloshed as the imp slumped in his makeshift tub "Don't-"
"I'm not sulking"
"Looks like it"
"I'm just beat okay!" before he could continue, Loon had downed her second bottle "And I still don't know if it was worth it!"
Neither do I… Loona wiped her mouth and avoided his eyes "I guess you'll know when she calls to chew you out for whatever it was"
"Not over this she won't" Blitz smiled confidently, so much that he smelled certain "You have no idea how much she…" he paused "Never mind, she won't call" he pointed at a box "And if she sets it on fire before listening to it, there's copies" Loona couldn't help but mirror his smug proud smile A lot smarter than usual dad she looked at the box with a raised brow "Why'd you make so many?" she shook her head "You could've put it on a file or something"
Blitz groan could be heard in the next building "One, there was a lot of tapes, different tapes with dozens of hours, two, I was busy stufffffffff-" he paused briefly as panic crept into his voice "With stuff on top of listening to the tapes and finding a good one where he wasn't blowing that Snip guy" Blitz shuddered before he continued "And then-"
"I get it, I get it, sheesh" Loona grabbed another beer "But she got it" and loved it "So the ball's in her court now" she absentmindedly checked her hellphone, seeing a dozen messages in her inbox That's…not normal, unless it's another thirsty fucker "I'm beat, see you at dinner"
"Have a nice nap" the imp put on a pair of headphones and Loona was free to check her inbox in peace.
As she closed the door, she somehow wasn't surprised that all the messages and missed calls were from Verosika, each spelling out "Don't tell him!" whilst some added a line or two of "PleasePleasePlease!" and in the calls her voice sounding more nervous than final, and strangely… sober. Which also came off stronger and strained, as if she was battling a hangover.
Pushing the thought aside, Loona typed a fast "Okay, I won't" stretched and let herself fall down on the bed.
But you sure should.
(End)
A Verosika X Blitz story where they don't actually meet, set in the same verse as my other Helluva Boss fics, Infernal Alphabet 1 and 2, Head above water, Date Night, IMP Krampus Cards, and to a lesser extent Bad Morning Do Over.
I hinted at Verosika's birthday coming up in my previous fic: A job, proffesional and personal, and I'm glad I actually managed to finish this followup fic so soon after. Glad something is going according to plan these days.
Introducing Verosika's brother Sastians' Girlfriend and the mother of his two daughters Angelisa and Siana, Haze Springweek, Verosika's dad (on tape) Sudwig Mayday and his abusive boss Ripper Snippet.
Hopefully I'll get to use them in later stories too.
RnR if you'd be so kind, I don't get better without feedback.
