Loona sat at her desk, engrossed in the pages of "IMP GOSSIP," a magazine featuring Verosika Mayday on the front cover. With a glass bottle in hand, Loona absentmindedly placed it on an open page of Stolas's grimoire, causing it to roll off the table and for the page to glow a bright blue. As the book page glowed, a portal to the human world materialized, and an unexpected sight emerged—a tree crashing through the portal, accompanied by a severed head. Moxxie emerged from the fallen tree, wielding a chainsaw with a manic expression on his face, while Blitzo strolled into the office. "Woo, that was a fuck ton of lumberjacks!" He exclaimed.
Benedict soon followed, stepping out of the portal. "You've never really lived until you've killed a man by throwing him into a wood chipper, sir." He sarcastically quipped.
Meanwhile, Millie, crawling on the floor like a crab, clutched an axe between her teeth and yelled, "I'm still so jazzed up!" She playfully snapped the axe in half and joined the rest of the group.
Moxxie, pointing finger guns, said, "Well, you better stay jazzed, babe. Because guess where I'm taking you tonight?"
"Don't you dare finish a filthy pun in my presence, Moxxie," Blitzo interrupted. "Besides, drinks are on Benedict tonight. Let's hit up the new dive down the street."
Interrupting their conversation, Moxxie clarified, "Actually, sir, it's our one-year marriage anniversary. So, I'm taking Millie to Ozzie's in the Lust Ring!"
Millie's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Ozzie's?! No way! That place is always booked!"
"Yeah, well, I've been planning it for quite a while," Moxxie revealed.
"Moxxie!" Millie exclaimed, jumping into his arms and showering his face with kisses. Their affectionate display continued as they engaged in a passionate embrace, much to the chagrin of the other people in the room.
"Ugh, can you two not?" Blitzo groaned, rolling his eyes.
"I'm sorry, sir. Maybe another time?" Moxxie offered, hoping to appease Blitzo.
"No, it's fine! I-I can come with the two of you, help you celebrate your boring as fuck monogamy." Blitzo remarked, attempting to join their outing.
"Uh, no. The reservation is for us," Moxxie clarified.
"Uh huh!" Blitzo replied playfully.
"Just us." Moxxie emphasized. "Without you there. Explicitly without you there. Can't you stalk Benedict for once?" He pointed towards the grumpy imp, who raised an eyebrow.
"You assume he doesn't?" Benedict pointed out, cleaning his rifle, which had various bits of lumberjack splattered on it.
(Flashback: That Morning)
Benedict, already in vest and tie, groggily rubbed his eyes as he walked into the kitchen of his meager apartment.
He grabbed a bowl and filled it with a brand of cereal labeled "Grumpy-O's!". He opened his fridge to search for his milk, only to come up empty handed.
At this point, Benedict also heard a strange, gargling noise coming from the nearby closet. Warily, he pulled out a semi auto pistol and took a few tentative steps towards the closet. He clicked the safety on his gun off as he stepped next to the door, his paranoid mind already at work wondering what kind of assassin was in his closet, waiting to do him in.
He very quickly yanked open the closet door and pointed his gun in, ready to un-alive anyone or anything that was in there.
What he found, however, was Blitzo, nestled among Benedict's identical outfits, pouring milk, straight from the carton, down his throat, his mouth hanging open. When he noticed Benedict, he stopped drinking, the milk spilling over from his mouth onto the floor as he gave the closest thing he could to a cheeky grin while his mouth was full of liquid.
"...Please use a cup, sir." Benedict eventually broke the silence, lowering his gun.
(End Flashback)
"I'll wear something nice. It's a big deal after all." Blitzo said, hugging them tightly before whistling his way out of the room. Moxxie growled in annoyance.
"Relax, sweetie, don't let him get to you today. Let's just go home and clean this blood off." Millie suggested, dragging her finger seductively down Moxxie's chest before pulling him along as Benedict rolled his eyes.
. . .
Benedict fiddled with a radio in his apartment, turning the knobs and trying to get a signal. Suddenly, the static turned to words. "Let's begin..." An eerie voice sang out from the radio. "I'm going to make you wish that I'd stayed go-" Benedict turned the knob again, settling on some swing jazz instead of a serial killer's vocalization.
A beep suddenly alerted him that his coffee machine was done, and, after pouring himself a mug, leaned back in his beaten up brown reclining chair. As he put the cup to his lips, his phone unexpectedly rang. Startled, he almost dropped his drink as he reached for his flip-phone.
Benedict hesitated for a moment before answering the call, eyeing the screen with suspicion. It displayed an unknown number, which immediately put him on edge. His mind raced through various possibilities, each one more paranoid than the last. Was it a trap? A setup? An old enemy? An insurance salesman?
Benedict answered the call cautiously. "Hello?" He said, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, before sipping his drink.
"Hey, uh... Benedict? It's me, Dominic?" A familiar voice responded on the other end.
Benedict spat out his drink. "What th- How the fuck did you get my number?!" He demanded angrily.
Dominic chuckled nervously. "Relax, Benedict. I know a guy. He has all the numbers." Benedict could've swore he heard the sound of a phone-book closing over the call. "Look, I know we haven't spoken in, erhm, years, and I understand if you're angry with me-"
Benedict's grip tightened around his mug as conflicting emotions washed over him. Anger, betrayal, and resentment warred with a flicker of curiosity. He took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself before responding.
"You have five minutes. Make it quick." Benedict replied tersely, his voice tinged with a mix of caution and impatience.
Dominic's voice crackled with a hint of urgency. "I'm sorry, Benedict, for everything. I know I messed up, but things have changed. I can't explain over the phone, but I want to meet you. Ozzie's tonight, okay? It's important."
"You want us to meet at a goddamn whorehouse?" Benedict pointed out, annoyed.
Dominic let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, it's not just any whorehouse, it's Ozzie's! Look, it's a place where we can have some privacy, and trust me, nobody will expect us there."
"It's a couple's joint, for Satan's sake. I can hardly think of somewhere where we'd be more out of place!" Benedict exclaimed angrily.
"Look, I have a plan, alright? It's couples only, so you bring a date, I'll bring my wife, and we'll use have them leave so we can talk in private."
Benedict raised an eyebrow. "Your wife? Since when were you married? And why the hell would she agree to this bullshit?" He looked annoyed by this whole debacle.
Dominic sighed. "Oh, she's... Well, she's something." He said dismissively.
Benedict snorted. "How long till you sell her down the river as well, hm?" He snapped bitterly.
"I-I'm not like that anymore, Benedict." Dominic replied, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice. "Things are different now. Please, just trust me. Meet me tonight, and I'll explain everything."
Benedict's grip tightened around his phone, his mind racing. On the one hand, he had no desire to meet his brother again, let alone at a den of iniquity like Ozzie's. On the other, Dominic's tone had a hint of desperation that was unusual for him, and a small part of Benedict was cautiously curious what he had to say.
"Fine. I'll meet you at Ozzie's, but If this is some kind of trap, I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your skull." Benedict warned, his tone deadly serious.
Dominic breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Benedict. See you tonight. Don't be late." The line went dead.
Benedict sighed, leaning back in his chair. Great. Now he needed a date. And only one option came to mind.
Fuck.
. . .
"Elevator 666 departing for Lust... in 5 minutes." The intercom announced in a lustful voice, making it heard across the bustling room. The room was Hell's version of a subway, going between the various rings. It was gilded and elaborate, one of the only well maintained pieces of infrastructure in all of hell.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Moxxie meticulously fixed his bowtie. Just as he finished, Millie walked over, and quickly pecked him on the cheek. They exchanged glances and walked off together, hand in hand. Unbeknownst to them, Blitzo peeked from behind a pillar, observing their every move. Curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't resist interfering. Blitzo swiftly dialed Loona's number, waiting for her voicemail to kick in.
"Yeah, it's Loona. Whoever you are, go for it." The voicemail said in a bored and annoyed tone.
Blitzo left her a message, his voice filled with mischief and anticipation. "Hey, Loonie. Just wanted to let you know I'm not gonna be back home until real late. I got something important tonight." With a smirk on his face, he ended the voicemail and prepared himself for the night ahead.
. . .
Meanwhile, Verosika Mayday was in her dressing room at Ozzies, preparing for her upcoming performance. She stood in front of a full-length mirror, adjusting her white fur coat and checking her long, flowing hair. The room was filled with the scent of expensive perfume and the sound of Verosika humming her latest hit.
Just as she finished applying a final touch of lipstick, her phone, which was lying on a nearby table, buzzed with an incoming call. Verosika snatched up the phone, not bothering to look at the caller ID before barking into the receiver, annoyed. "What the hell do you want?"
Benedict cleared his throat nervously on the other end, preparing himself for the upcoming conversation. "Heeey, Verosika. It's, uh, it's Benedict."
Verosika immediately swapped her tone, becoming flirtatious and seductive. "Oh, Benny! How delightful to hear from you." She purred, leaning against the dressing table.
The moment Benedict heard the sultry voice on the other end, his eye twitched. He held the phone a bit away from his ear, as if the seduction could jump out of the device and attack him. Ignoring Benedict's discomfort, Verosika continued, "So, what brings you to call me, darling? Missing my irresistible charm, perhaps?"
Benedict took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Actually, Verosika, I... uh, was wondering if you'd like to go out tonight. You know, for some... fun." Benedict's words stumbled out awkwardly, as if he was reading from a script he didn't quite understand. In fact, he was actually reading from a script he'd found on the internet titled "How to Ask Someone Out," but he wasn't about to admit that.
Verosika eyes widened, and she let out a throaty laugh that sent shivers down Benedict's spine. "Oh, Benny, darling, you're finally coming around to the idea of spending a night with the fabulous Verosika Mayday?" She chuckled, twirling a strand of her hair. "You know, I have a special performance tonight at Ozzie's. Why don't you join me there, and we can make it a night to remember?"
Benedict hesitated, unsure if he was lucky or not that Verosika happened to be at Ozzies. "Yeah... That sounds... great. Ozzie's it is, then." Benedict tried to sound enthusiastic, though his discomfort was evident. "Just... Try and be discreet, maybe?"
Verosika, however, had already thrown caution to the wind, giggling seductively. "Oh, Benny, discretion is not in my vocabulary. But don't you worry, darling, we'll have a blast tonight."
Benedict sighed, resigning himself to the bizarre turn of events. "Yeah, sure. See you at Ozzie's, then."
Verosika blew a kiss into the phone. "Can't wait, Benny. Prepare yourself for a night you won't forget." With that, she hung up, leaving Benedict staring at his phone in despair.
. . .
Lust was a very sleazy ring, with several neon signs that bathed the streets in vibrant colors. Ozzie's was no exception to this, the vibrant colors and lights trying to wrench away the attention of anyone who happened to see it. Moxxie and Millie, unaware of Blitzo's presence, confidently strolled into the building. Blitzo attempted to follow them, only to be intercepted by a bouncer named Jesse.
"Woah there, buddy. Got a reservation?" Jesse inquired, blocking Blitzo's path.
Blitzo, always quick on his feet, tried to charm his way through. "Oh, yeah. I'm with those two." He replied, attempting to sway Jesse.
The bouncer remained firm. "This club is for couples only." Jesse explained.
"It's what?" Blitzo questioned, taken aback by the unexpected restriction.
"No date, no reservation, no entry." Jesse reiterated, leaving Blitzo no choice but to come up with an alternative plan.
In a bold move, Blitzo looked Jesse up and down, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Y-you know," He stammered, trying to play it cool, "You have really nice eyes, daddy?" But his efforts were in vain, as Jesse promptly tossed him into a nearby dumpster, sealing it shut.
Undeterred, Blitzo emerged from the trash, his determination unfazed by the setback. "You fucking prude!" He exclaimed, discreetly flipping off Jesse behind his back.
. . .
In the luxurious dining area of Stolas's mansion, the prince himself sat alone, pouring milk into his cereal. A sense of melancholy hung in the air as he gazed upon the empty table before him. Seeking solace, he carried his bowl to a nearby couch and covered himself with a blanket. Stolas switched on the TV, tuning in to a popular show called "Hell-a-Novela," allowing himself a momentary escape from his desolate reality.
"Ay, why won't you love me, Alejandro?" One of the characters of the show, a female, cryed out dejectedly.
"That's a mood, Gabriella." Stolas agreed, sadly munching on his cereal.
As Stolas settled into his chosen refuge, the telephone rang, interrupting the temporary peace. Smoke billowed from the receiver, forming the words "Blitzy is calling." Slightly startled, Stolas scrambled over to the phone, inadvertently spilling his bowl and getting entangled in the blanket in the process.
"Helloo? Hello, Blitzy?" Stolas answered, his voice a mix of surprise and anticipation.
On the other end of the line, Blitzo's voice exuded awkwardness. "Stolas, heyyy. You-uh, shit... you busy tonight?" He inquired nervously.
"Umm, why do you ask?" Stolas responded.
Blitzo's reply left no room for doubt. "I was wondering if you... wanna come with me to a club tonight?" He proposed, a hint of nervousness seeping into his words.
Caught off guard, Stolas's face flushed, his pupils transforming into hearts. "Are you asking me on a date, Blitzy?" He asked, unable to hide his delight.
The confirmation caught Blitzo off guard, but he quickly gathered himself. "I-yes, I suppose that is what's happening. How fast can you get down to Lust?" He asked, wanting to get this over with quickly.
With unwavering determination, Stolas declared, "I can be ready in twenty!" His excitement palpable, he eagerly anticipated the evening ahead. "Alright, fantastic. See you soon." Blitzo replied.
"I'll see you, Blitzy~" Stolas responded, a sparkle of anticipation in his eyes.
Stolas wasted no time, swiftly retrieving an outfit and jumping into a sequence of preparations.
A bit later, Stolas was applying eyeliner while admiring his reflection in the mirror. A touch of blush completed his look, enhancing his features. With a newfound confidence, Stolas turned away from the mirror.
. . .
Blitzo paced back and forth on a dimly lit street, his impatience apparent. "Come on, come on, come on..." He muttered to himself, growing impatient.
Just then, a green, beaten up car that looked straight out of the 1930's pulled up nearby, parking on the empty roadside. The driver's side door swung open, and out stepped Benedict, wearing a tweed vest and red tie, with white shirt and slacks. His hair was also slicked back more than usual, in an effort to look nice. On the contrary, he seemed even more brooding and sullen than usually, which was quite impressive considering how grumpy he normally was.
"Benny? The fuck are you doing here?" Blitzo whirled around, surprised to see Benedict. He hadn't expected his grumpy colleague to be anywhere near this part of Lust, or Lust in general for that matter.
Benedict also seemed surprised to see his boss. "Sir? What ar- Oh, you're here to stalk Moxxie and Millie, aren't you?" He realized.
Blitzo raised an eyebrow, attempting to feign innocence. "Stalk? Me? Pff, nah. I just happened to be in the neighborhood, you know, enjoying the... Y'know, whores n' stuff." He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
Benedict gave him a blank look, clearly used to this from his boss. "Right. Look, sir, just... Please don't involve me in whatever you're doing."
Blitzo narrowed his eyes at Benedict. "Actually, why are you here, Benny? Got a hot date or something?" He teased, a mischievous grin playing on his face.
While the remark would've normally flustered Benedict to some extent, it only seemed to harden his expression more. "Regretfully, yes. Look, sir, I'm here on... Business, and I really would appreciate if you left me to it."
Just as Blitzo took in breath to say something, probably in an attempt to aggravate Benedict, a glowing portal materialized behind him. He turned around, greeted by the sight of Stolas stepping through the portal. "Oh, Blitzy. I'm here~," Stolas announced, his presence casting a spotlight upon Blitzo, as well as inadvertently partially illuminating Benedict.
Blitzo, momentarily caught off guard, squinted at Stolas. "Wow. That's a bit overkill, don't ya think?"
Chuckling softly, Stolas adjusted his suit, his eyes fixed on Blitzo. "W-well, I-I just wanted to look a little nicer for you. This is our first real date, after all," He explained, a hint of nervousness lacing his words. He then noticed Benedict standing there, checking his watch impatiently. "Oh. You." He said, his smile slightly diminishing.
Benedict, unimpressed, nodded curtly at Stolas. "Evening, Stolas." He once again glanced at his watch annoyed, muttering to himself. "Where the hell is that who-"
Just then, a red carpet rolled out of the front door of Ozzies, crushing Jessie in the process, who let out a yelp of surprise. Out stepped Verosika Mayday, her presence commanding attention as she struck a pose at the entrance. The other various demons in line gasped dramatically as Benedict sighed. "What did I say about being discreet?" He grumbled.
Verosika, not missing a beat, sashayed down the red carpet towards Benedict. "Benny, darling, you're looking positively dashing tonight!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arm around his, much to Benedict's dismay.
Blitzo, unable to contain his amusement, broke down into laughter. "'Business', huh? Is this the kind of business you're into, Benny?" Blitzo smirked, earning a glare from both Benedict and Verosika, for different reasons.
Verosika shot Blitzo a venomous look, clearly not thrilled to see him. "Oh, Blitzo, how utterly expected of you to show up where you're not wanted." She looked over at Stolas, who had a smirk on his face from Benedict's predicament. "And who's this? Another one of your little flings?"
Stolas glared at Verosika with a raised eyebrow, unamused by her comment."That would be none of your concern, my dear. I'm here on a date with Blitzy, not that it's any of your business." With that, Stolas grabbed a far less enthused Blitzos hand and they strolled right towards the entrance of Ozzie's, with Blitzo making sure to stomp especially hard on the lump under the carpet that was Jessie.
Verosika snorted. "Typical. Always moving on to the next one." She muttered to herself, before focusing back on Benedict, who was visibly uncomfortable with her proximity. "Now, Benny, let's not keep Asmodeus waiting. Our night is about to begin!" Verosika exclaimed, leading Benedict towards the entrance with an air of confidence.
. . .
Inside Ozzie's, the atmosphere was filled with the pulsating beats of music and the dim glow of neon lights. Stolas gasped in awe as he took in the surroundings, his previous encounter with Benedict and Verosika all but forgotten. "Oh, my! Oh, no; No, but, yes! Oh, Blitzo, how romantic is this? What made you choose such a place to bring me?"
Blitzo and Stolas found a table somewhat near the stage, and sat down, with Blitzo sitting on top of a stack of books to be able to reach the top of the table, which clearly wasn't made with imps in mind.
Blitzo, not one to easily express his emotions, smirked and pulled out a pair of binoculars from his jacket pocket. "Oh, it just sounded like... I just thought we'd have a blast here, you know?" He peered through the binoculars, scanning the room until his gaze settled on Moxxie and Millie. "Gotcha!" He then paused, before quickly flicking his gaze over to where Benedict was awkwardly being shepherded into the room by Verosika.
Curiosity piqued, Stolas leaned forward, trying to catch a glimpse of what Blitzo was looking at. "Oh, Blitzo. What are you looking at?"
Without taking his eyes off his employees, Blitzo nonchalantly replied, "I'm looking at nothing; how about that?"
. . .
Verosika dragged Benedict between the various tables of patrons, her high heels clicking on the floor as she led him towards the bar, reveling in the attention of the patrons. Benedict, on the other hand, looked like he'd rather sink into the floor, hunched over and giving a paranoid glare to every patron who looked his way. Wally Wackford, the eccentric bartender, stood behind the counter, a wide grin on his face.
"Vero! Good ta' see yah, I say!" Wally greeted cheerfully, leaning over the bar with an exaggerated bow.
Verosika responded with a seductive smile, leaning on the bar. "Wally, darling, you always know how to make a girl feel welcome. Give me something strong tonight; I've got a big performance ahead."
Wally winked at her. "You got it, sugar. And who's this little fella you brought with ya?" He looked down at Benedict, who glared back up at him.
"Average height for an imp, thank you very much." Benedict snapped, not appreciating the comment on his height.
Wally chuckled, not bothered by Benedict's grumpiness. "Well, shorty, uh, what can I get ya?" he asked Benedict, sliding a cocktail menu across the bar.
Benedict stopped the menu with his tail, not bothering to look at it. "I don't drink." He stated matter-of-factly.
Wally didn't miss a beat, quickly grabbing a kid's menu, complete with crayons, and handing it to Benedict. "Alright then, kiddo! How 'bout something from here?" he suggested with a wink.
"Wh-" Benedict looked at the kids menu for a few seconds. "This is a goddamn whorehouse! Why do you even have a kids menu?!" Benedict asked, both offended and confused.
Wally seemed to take offense to this statment. "Now, Ozzies is a respectable, family establishment, I say I say!" He defended, puffing his chest out proudly.
Benedict just sighed in exasperation, taking the kid's menu and pushing it back towards Wally. "I'll pass. Just give me a glass of water or something." He glanced around, hoping to spot Dominic in the crowd.
Wally chuckled and poured Benedict a glass of water. "Water it is, shorty. But I highly recommend the coloring! It's very therapeutic, I say!"
Benedict reluctantly took the glass of water, shooting Wally a skeptical look before turning away. Verosika, meanwhile, sipped on her cocktail with a smirk, clearly amused by the entire situation.
As Benedict sipped his water, he noticed Verosika eyeing him. "You really don't drink, huh? How do you even survive in this hellhole without drowning your sorrows?" She teased, downing the cocktail that Wally whipped up for her.
Benedict, maintaining a forced polite smile, responded to Verosika's teasing. "I find other ways to cope, Miss Mayday. Not everyone needs alcohol to function." He glanced around the room, desperately searching for a way to escape this awkward situation.
Verosika, seemingly unfazed by his response, leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing with a mischievous glint. "I bet you have some hidden talents, Benny. Maybe you'll surprise me tonight." She winked, her suggestive tone making Benedict squirm uncomfortably.
As Verosika leaned in closer and tried to run a finger down his chest, Benedict quickly leaned back. "Excuse me, Miss Mayday. I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back." He quickly sputtered out, before sliding off the stool.
Verosika smirked. "Oh, Benny, don't keep me waiting too long. I'll be right here, anticipating your return." She blew him a kiss, her eyes lingering on him as he hurriedly made his way through the crowded room.
Benedict, however, had no intention of taking a leak, and he instead snuck through the crowd. He quickly dived behind a waitress who was walking by, using her as a poor form of cover by sidling behind her as she moved.
Soon after, he dived beneath an occupied table, which was occupied by a female succubus who's face was suspiciously close to the groin of the incubus sitting at the table. Odds are she wasn't looking for something she'd dropped down there.
Benedict seemed unfazed by this as he peeked through the tablecloth, eyes darting through the room. The succubus's eyes widened immensely as she froze, realizing someone was under the table with her.
"Evening, mam." Benedict greeted casually, before darting out from under the table. The succubus blinked, momentarily stunned, before shrugging and returning her attention to the incubus, who seemed completely oblivious to the brief interruption.
. . .
Dominic himself was nurturing a glass of whiskey, and was deep in thought. The resemblance between him and Benedict was there, though Benedict's appearance was beaten up enough that it would be hard to tell they were related. Dominic was also a good bit bulkier than Benedict, as well as a fair bit taller. He has similar close-clinging horns, and neatly combed hair, along with well trimmed muttonchops in contrast to the slight stubble on Benedict's face, with a crisp black suit that reeked of wealth, and a neat blue tie.
Dominic was knocked out of his musings by the scraping of a chair as Benedict sat himself at the table. At first, Dominic glared at him suspiciously. "I'm sorry, who the hell are y-"
Benedict cut off Dominic with a glare. "Keep your voice down. We don't need everyone in the joint knowing who we are." He glanced around nervously, making sure nobody was eavesdropping.
Dominic squinted at him with a mix of confusion and recognition. "Wait a minute... Benny? Is that really you?" He squinted, trying to discern if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Surely, this grumpy, paranoid, scarred imp couldn't be his little brother?
Benedict pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag before responding, the smoke curling around him menacingly. "Yes, it's me." He growled. "And it's 'Benedict'."
Dominic blinked, processing the transformation that time had wrought upon his once innocent little brother. "Wow, Benny. You've... changed."
Benedict blew out a puff of smoke, his eyes narrowing. "You think?" He glanced at his watch. "Look, we have about 5 minutes until the whore I had to drag here to get in realizes I'm not on the toilet, so whatever the hell you want, make it quick." His gaze was locked on Dominic, his face a mix of anger, resentment, and suspicion.
"So, uh... How have you been, Benedict? It's been a while." Dominic awkwardly attempted to break the ice, his voice strained with nervousness.
Benedict shot Dominic a glare that could melt steel. "How have I been? Oh, just peachy, killing people for a living. What about you, Hmm? Living the high life in the mafia, I presume?"
Dominic shifted uncomfortably in his chair, trying to gauge Benedict's level of animosity. "Benny, I know I messed up in the past, but I want to make things right. I miss our family, and I want us to be brothers again."
Benedict scoffed, taking another drag from his cigarette. "You miss our family, huh? Well, let me remind you, Dominic. Our family is dead, thanks to you and your little Mafia buddies."
Dominic swallowed nervously as he felt the tension escalate. "Benedict, you have to understand, I didn't have many options back then. Just like you, I was trying to give us all a better life."
Benedict's eye twitched as he ground his cigarette into the ashtray, his frustration palpable. "You had options, Dominic. We all did. But you chose the easy way out, and it cost us everything."
Dominic's gaze fell to the table, his guilt weighing heavily on him. "I regret what happened to our parents, Benedict. I truly do. But I can't change the past. All I want now is to reconnect some of my only living family."
"And what, you think you can just waltz back into my life after all these years?" Benedict snapped, his voice rising slightly. "You betrayed me, Dominic! You left me to deal with the aftermath while you went off to enjoy your precious mafia life! You orphaned a goddamned 8 year old!"
"I know I messed up, but I've changed since then. I've learned from my mistakes, and I've been trying to make amends in my own way." Dominic pleaded.
"Your way? Your way is to offer me a date in a couples' joint, pretending like nothing happened? You have no idea what kind of shit I've been through." Benedict retorted, his grip on the table tightening.
Dominic took in breath to say something, but was interrupted by the sound of music filled the air, and several dancers descended from the ceiling. A voice introduced the entertainment for the evening, capturing everyone's attention, including that of Blitzo and Stolas, who were sitting near the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen! I see some sexy faces around here tonight!" Fizzarolli's voice boomed through the speakers as the jester like imp descended from the center stage. "Welcome, welcome, to Ozzie's: Lust ring's number 1 place for all kinds of sick twisted fantasies. Put on display for all you 'Sleaze' and 'Sleazettes.' The gin joint of Asmodeus himself! C'mon, give him some LOVE!"
Stolas's eyes widened in surprise. "Did he just say Asmodeus?" He asked, incredulous.
Blitzo's face paled, and he quickly hid behind a menu, his voice trembling slightly. "Oh, no fucking way. Not HIM!"
Fizzarolli reveled in his grand entrance, introducing himself with gusto. "I am the one and only Fizzarolli! Some of you may recognize this dashing clown face from my numerous toy-botic replicas across the rings of Hell. Gloriously designed by the big man himself." He paused, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a cybernetic arm. "Ribbed for your pleasure tonight."
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Fizzarolli continued. "We have a great lineup for you tonight: Verosika Mayday, Wet Dream, and The Squirterz!"
Verosika, who had been tapping her foot impatiently at the bar while waiting for Benedict to return, perked up at the sound of her name. She quickly shoves away Wally, who had been handing her her eight cocktail that night, and posed for the paparazzi, with members of The Squirterz appearing beside her.
Fizzarolli paused to engage the audience, setting up a joke. "But, as everyone's warming up, I got a funny one for y'all: Did any of you hear about the bat-shittery that happened at Loo Loo Land?"
Laughter erupted throughout the room, and Fizzarolli chuckled along. "Ha ha ha! Oh, yeah, Oh, wow. I'll tell you what: I'd sure love to shake the hand of the crazy son of a bitch who decided to burn down that off brand shithole and then slap a fat subpoena in it, 'cause I am VERY MUCH looking to sue!"
The crowd roared with laughter and agreement, as Blitzo and Stolas looked away, their expressions filled with guilt. Benedict also winced slightly, remembering that mess of a job.
"That robo me made us more money entertaining those kids than the ones we sell to get you freaks off, if you know what I mean." Fizzarolli continued, giggling maniacally.
A random patron chimed in, joining the conversation. "Oh, I know what you mean! I have four of them!" He exclaimed.
Fizzarolli pulled away from the mic and muttered, "Okay, keep that guy FAR away from me." Addressing the audience once more, he declared, "So, without wasting any more time, our little opening act is a fresh one! Coming at us from a little imp from the Wrath Ring, give it up for Moxxie... with no creative stage name whatsoever!"
The audience applauds as Moxxie gets up with his guitar before kissing Millie on the cheek. Fizzarolli moves from his spot to another, as Moxxie takes the stage.
"Hello, everyone - Oh!" Moxxie paused due to the feedback from the microphone, and clears his throat. "Hi, thank you for letting me be here. It's an honor to play."
Dominic, upon seeing who walks up on stage, almost spits out his whiskey. "The hell is he doing here?" He muttered to himself, not going unnoticed by Benedict.
"Uh, hurry up, Bullet, and, uh, SING, boy! I say, I say-" Wally Wackford yelled, slurred and impatiently, while coloring in the kids menu. He turned to one of the patrons at the bar, gesturing at his drawings. "What uh-color do ya' think works better here, I say?" He asked.
"This song is for my beautiful wife, a surprise for our first anniversary." Moxxie finished. "I love you Millie." With that, he starts strumming his guitar and begins to sing his song.
(Song starts)
Moxxie: I love you.
Moxxie: More than the brimstone loves the fire.
Moxxie: More than Beelze loves her bub
Moxxie: More than a maggot loves gangrenes stubs
During the song, everyone looks with a confused look on their face. Millie is just touched by the song playing, and Fizzarolli looks at his companion hidden in the shadows with a smug look while his companion glares.
Moxxie: You make my spirit sing
Moxxie: Yeah, you make me glad I live in Hell
Moxxie: Our love is a story sweet to tell
Moxxie: Yeah, you cast a special Satanic spell
Moxxie: Over my heart
The smoke machines activates, hitting Millie directly. The scene is full of pink smoke and hearts surrounding Moxxie and Millie.
Moxxie: Love is a journey we decided to start
Moxxie: Yeah, I hope we'll never ever be apart
Moxxie: I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
Singing the same line over and over, Moxxie is drowned out by Fizzarolli and Asmodeus saying the same thing over him. Their silhouettes are shown laughing right behind his back. They appear from the smoke.
Asmodeus: You singing love songs in my lustful lounge?
Fizzarolli: Ozzie's ain't the place for sentimental sounds!
Asmodeus: What'd you expect from a proprietor like us?
Fizzarolli: Your demon host, Asmodeus, the embodiment of lu-u-u-u-u-ust!
Asmodeus: Give me a thrust!
Fizzarolli makes trumpet sounds.
Asmodeus: Show me some lust!
Fizzarolli trumpets, again.
Asmodeus: From the groin to the bust! In desire we trust, in the House of Asmodeus
Fizzarolli: Trumpet! Hah!
Asmodeus: Little Imp, you came here to sing your serenade
Asmodeus: Perform your feelings on a velvety stage
Asmodeus: Well, we got a saying that's popular in these parts
Fizzarolli: Only little bitches strum the strings of their hearts!
Asmodeus: You wanna hang around this lustful town?
Asmodeus: Ditch the lovey-dovey before we knock you around!
Asmodeus Here we sing about wants and desires
Fizzarolli: Depravity, savagery, loins hotter than fire!
Asmodeus: So, give me a thrust
Asmodeus: Show me some lu-u-u-u-ust
Asmodeus: From the groin to the bust, Little Imp, you just must
Asmodeus: In the House of Asmodeus
Asmodeus: Come on, sing us a so-o-o-o-ong!
Asmodeus dances on a pole while Fizzarolli throws money on him.
Asmodeus: Make sure the subject is getting it on
Asmodeus: Make it graphic and tantrically long
Fizzarolli: Be sure to rhyme "thong" and "schlong"!
Asmodeus: Go ahead, your mic's on!
Moxxie nervously continues his part of the song. He strums his guitar once more quietly.
Moxxie: I want to...
Fizzarolli: Yeah, what do you want? Butt stuff? Piss play? Bondage?
Moxxie: Make gentle love to you
Asmodeus and Fizzarolli are not pleased with the response he gave, and look at Moxxie, disgusted.
Asmodeus: Ugh!
Asmodeus: What a limp-dick imp, you're really killing the vibe
Asmodeus: Get a load of this dweeb and his unsatisfied bride!
Dominic frowns at them mocking Moxxie, but does nothing as the audience starts to make fun of Moxxie, until the song is interrupted by Blitzo speaking up.
Blitzo: Hey, now. I've watched those two pork many times.
Moxxie: What?! Blitzo?!
Benedict sighs inwardly.
Benedict: That idiot's going to get himself killed.
Dominic glanced over at Benedict.
Dominic: You know him?
Benedict: Don't worry about it.
Blitzo: And, honestly, they make missionary look relatively exciting.
Moxxie has a disgusted look on his face as Fizzarolli pops in.
Fizzarolli: Is that Blitz-o? So, you're showing your face?!
Fizzarolli: Hey, everybody! This guy's a total disgrace!
Fizzarolli: Some nerve you've got to comment on a relationship
Fizzarolli: Last I checked, your love life is a pile of shit!
Verosika appears behind Blitzo and Verosika, the spotlight shifting to her.
Verosika: Oh, Blitz-o?
Verosika: I used to date him
Blitzo looked over at her, annoyed.
Blitzo: Oh, Verosika, you're here.
Verosika: I'd stroke and I'd fellate him
She rolled over onto a table, posing sexily as several audience members rushed around to take photos. Just by pure chance, however, she rolled onto the table where Benedict and Dominic were talking, much to the former's dismay and the latters annoyance.
Dominic: Hey, watch it, whore! You almost knocked over my drink!
(Song ends)
The music grinds to an abrupt halt as all the eyes in the room snap to Dominic, who looks around at all the people staring at him in exasperation. "What? You know how hard it is to get whiskey out of a nice suit like this?"
"Wait, Dominic?!" Moxxie asked in disbelief, recognizing the imp at the table. "And Benedict? Why is the entire office here?!"
"Oh... Uh, hi Mox." Dominic waves at Moxxie, an awkward smile on his face.
"Wait, what?!" Benedict quickly shoves his chair back and stands up. "How do you two know each other?!"
Verosika, only now just realizing Benedict wasn't taking a shit, looked at him in confusion. "Wait, I thought you were on the toi-" She glanced between him and Dominic, her facial expression morphing into something far angrier. "Are you seriously fucking some dude behind my back on our date?!" She sputtered angrily, her eyes narrowing at Benedict.
Benedict's face contorted into a mixture of disgust and annoyance as he realized Verosika's misunderstanding. "No, you idiot. He's my brother." He clarified sharply.
Verosika's anger seemed to intensify as she heard Benedict's clarification. "Your brother?! So, what, this was all some twisted family reunion?!" She exclaimed, her voice rising in frustration as she pulled herself off the table.
Benedict raised an eyebrow. "What, you think I actually wanted to date you? Are you really that stupid?"
Verosika's face flushed with embarrassment and anger, her fists clenched at her sides. "You... You used me?!" She seethed, her eyes blazing with fury.
Benedict crossed his arms defensively, his expression unapologetic. "I never pretended to be interested in you, Miss Mayday. You just assumed I was."
"Well look at what we have here" Asmodeus's voice bellowed from onstage. He sauntered over, leaning in towards Benedict
(Song Starts)
Asmodeus: Grumpy little imp
He circled around Benedict, as the imp grew more and more nervous by the second and Dominic took a few steps back.
Asmodeus: Why don't you give her a thrust?
He picked Benedict up by the back of the neck.
Asmodeus: Show her some luuust
He spun around, before tossing Benedict onto the stage, with Fizzaroli catching him with his cybernetic arm.
Asmodeus: Well, you betrayed her trust
Fizzaroli: Your relationships bust!
Benedict was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground by Fizzaroli
Asmodeus: But here in Lust, that's a must!
Asmodeus: In the house of Asmodeuuus~
Benedict staggered to his feet, Asmodeus circling around him.
Asmodeus: Why so uptight?
He picked the short imp up by the collar of the shirt.
Asmodeus: You're acting like Lust's such a friiiight~
Blitzo, who had been watching the spectacle unfold with a mixture of amusement and annoyance, stood up on his chair.
Blitzo: Hey, dipshit! Get your hands off my employee!
Stolas reached out to put a hand on Blitzo's arm.
Stolas: Blitz, darling, I don't think this is a good-
Asmodeus interrupted, spinning around to look at the two, still holding onto Benedict.
Asmodeus: Who's that at the table? Is your date a demon prince?
Fizzarolli pops up directly in front of Stolas, pulling out a pair of binoculars and looking at the prince through them, far too close for the binoculars to be effective.
Asmodeus: Stolas, is that you?
Wally Wackford: Are you sleepin' with an Imp?!
Asmodeus: Wooo! My dark lord, how the mighty do fall
He strutted over to Stolas and pitched Benedict away in the process, sending him crashing into a nearby table, which coincidentally happened to be where Dominic was sitting, with a crash.
(Song Ends)
Dominic staggered to his feet as Asmodeus continued his song and dance in the background, looking at his nice suit which now, despite his best efforts, had gotten whiskey spilled all over it. "Great, just great." He muttered under his breath, his frustration evident as he tried to wipe the liquid off.
Benedict pushed himself up from the wreckage of the table, his expression darkening as he glared at Dominic. "This is all your fault, you know that? Dragging me into this mess."
Dominic's face fell, hurt flashing in his eyes at Benedict's words. "Benny, I'm trying here. Can't we just start over? Can't I just love my family again?"
Benedict scoffed, his frustration boiling over. "Love? Oh, sure, Dominic. Because all those years of leaving me to fend for myself are just water under the bridge, right? You think you can waltz back into my life and suddenly everything's sunshine and rainbows?" He dusted himself off. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm have work to do." That was partially a lie. He didn't have any work assigned to him, per se, but he'd probably end up going to the office and doing some paperwork just to clear his mind. That, and he always had a hard time sleeping.
Dominic , seeing that Benedict was in no mood for reconciliation, reached out a hand and grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him. "Benny, let's talk about this-"
With lightning fast reflexes, he grabbed Dominic by the tie and yanked him so that they were face to face. Before he could even react, Dominic also felt the weight of a gun barrel pressing against his chest, aimed such that it would shoot right under his ribs and through his heart.
Benedict's eyes bore into Dominic's with a mixture of anger and betrayal. "Let me make this crystal clear to you, Dominic," He hissed, his grip tightening on Dominic's tie. "I don't want your love. I don't need your love. And I sure as hell don't trust you." He jabbed the gun against Dominic's chest for emphasis, causing him to flinch. "So get the hell out of my life before you drag your mafia friends into it too." With that, he shoved Dominic away, releasing his tie, and stormed off towards the exit, leaving Dominic standing there in shock and frustration.
"-Such a happy display. It sickens me!" Dominic heard Asmodeus, who was onstage, sneer to Moxxie and his wife, interrupting their post song kissing. "GET THE FUCK OUT!"
Without a word, the two imps quickly scampered offstage and headed towards the exit. Dominic sighed, before straitening his whiskey stained suit out and headed towards Moxxie as the musical imp made his exit. Hey, maybe at least one meeting with an old acquaintance could go well today.
"Hey, Mox!" He called out, getting the married couple's attention.
Moxxie turned around, his expression quickly morphing from a joyful one to one all together far more nervous. "Oh, uh- Hey, Dominic." He awkwardly waved.
Millie, who had been standing nearby, looked between Moxxie and Dominic with confusion. "Moxxie, do you know this guy?" She asked, her tone laced with suspicion.
Moxxie shifted uncomfortably, his nerves getting the best of him. "Uh, yeah, Millie. This is, uh, Dominic. We, uh, used to work together..." He trailed off, unsure of how much to reveal.
Dominic extended his hand towards Millie, a charming smile plastered on his face. "Pleasure to meet you, Millie. I'm Dominic, a... colleague of Moxxie's from way back." He chuckled slightly at this.
Millie eyed Dominic warily before tentatively shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you, Dominic. So, uh, Moxxie never mentioned you before..." She trailed off, shooting a questioning glance at her husband.
Moxxie cleared his throat nervously, shooting a panicked look at Dominic. "Uh, yeah, well, we... Dominic and I... we go way back. But, uh, it's been a while since we last saw each other."
'Please for the love of god and all that is holy please don't ask more please please please-' Moxxie thought in a panic as he stumbled through the conversation, praying that his wife wouldn't dig any deeper.
Dominic nodded, deciding to play along with Moxxie's vague explanation. "Yeah, it's been too long, hasn't it, Moxxie?" He flashed a smile at Moxxie, who nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Right, right." Moxxie replied, his voice slightly strained. "So, uh, what brings you here, Dominic?"
Dominic scratched the back of his head, trying to find the right words. "Oh, you know, just, uh... Meeting with a different old acquaintance of mine."
"Yah mean Benny?" Millie chimed in, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Wait, how do you know my brother?" Dominic asked, caught off guard by Millie's question.
Millie shrugged innocently. "Oh, we work with him. He's a bit grumpy, but he's not too bad once you get to know him."
"...Huh. Small hell." Dominic remarked , his eyes flicking between Moxxie and Millie. "Yeah, small hell indeed." He chuckled nervously, trying to keep his composure. "Well, it's good to see you guys. I better get going. Nice meeting you, Millie." With a quick nod, he turned on his heel and made a hasty exit.
. . .
Benedict slammed the door of his car shut, plopping down into the drivers seat and turning the key, causing the old engine to sputter to life. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Whatever the hell just happened, it didn't matter. He had work to do. That was far more important.
He pulled out of Ozzies and drove off hoping to reach the elevator between rings as soon as possible, the neon lights of Hell illuminating the dark streets. As he drove, he turned on the radio, hoping to drown out the chaos of the evening with some music.
"You're noobody till sooomebody loves you~" A voice from the radio sang out. Benedict winced slightly, being reminded of his comments towards Dominic, before quickly scowling and changing the station.
"Everybody loves somebody somtime~"
Annoyed, he twisted the knob to change the station again.
"I only live to love you more, each d-"
The knob clicked as he repeatedly changed the stations, trying to find a song that wasn't mocking him.
"-Doubt about it, I'm in Lo-"
"I wish I were in love aga-"
"Love me or leave m-"
"-So easy to love~"
Benedict's frustration grew with each song that played, the lyrics mocking him in their own twisted way. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. With a look of frustration, he ripped the radio out of the dashboard and tossed it onto the passenger side, hoping to silence the incessant barrage of love songs.
Benedict focused his eyes back on the road, trying to refocus himself.
"That's the way loooove is~" The radio belted out again.
Benedict let out an exasperated groan as the radio somehow started playing again, despite being disconnected and tossed aside. He shot a glare at the radio as if it had personally offended him, then reached over and snatched it up, before chucking it out the window.
The radio clattered onto the pavement, bouncing a few times as Benedict zoomed away, off to the office to get some more work done.
A/N: Anyone else ever been writing fanfiction at 1:00 AM and realize how many love songs are in your spotify playlist?
No? Just me? Alright then.
Sorry for the hiatus, I was just pretty busy. But thankfully I should have more time for a decent while, so I should have the next chapter rewritten in ~1 week. I doubt it will be nearly as comprehensive a rewrite as this one. And it will feature it's own song that I s̶t̶o̶l̶e̶ f̶r̶o̶m̶ t̶h̶e̶ i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶n̶e̶t̶ came up with on my own. Definitely. 100%. Please don't sue me.
On the topic of music, I'll admit, I'm no songwriter, and I had an especially difficult time trying to include Benedict in Asmodeus's song. I think I did okay, but it's definitely not the best.
Still though, this was probably the most comprehensive rewrite I've done so far. This go around, I especially wanted to address the Moxxie-Dominic connection, due to, y'know, mafia stuff. It should, hopefully, make things interesting later. Hopefully. Assuming I can figure out how to write emotions.
Also, I'm going to temporarily delete the next two chapters while I work on them, simply to not confuse people who get notified. So if you were wondering why they were gone, that's why.
Anyways, as always, feedback is appreciated, and- Ah, who am I kidding, nobody reads these.