Stolas was relaxing in his bubble bath, as he often did in the late evening hours. Every so often, one giant bubble floated and lingered. It had a motion picture, keeping tabs on his favorite imp. He just so happened to start laughing at the same time as the littler imp. Apparently, Blitzy had said something particularly funny to his lunatic captors.

His mood changed as the interrogation developed. When he saw the airborne truth serum, he muttered that it was rather uncouth. His finger popped that bubble. A while later, he silently purred as he watched his Blitzy's team paint the floor and walls red with grunt parts. But then, the red button's lockdown happened.

The Goetia Prince stood up. As he marched away from the tub, the water on his feathers evaporated instantly. He grabbed his royal garments, surrounded himself with demonic shadows, then faded into the floor. These last two stubborn agents deserved a proper scare.

"Who dares threaten my impish little plaything?"

Although it was a whisper, his voice had the weight of a shout. He dislodged some of the cameras and monitors. He messed with some of the corpses to draw a blood circle on the floor. He even overshadowed one of the agents to laugh in the other's face. Finally, after his true form had a multi-pitched laugh at the humans' expense, he turned around and swung his cape. He found the override button, getting rid of the pesky red lights and the alarm.

"Wait, Stolas? How did you know we needed help?" Blitzo pointed out.

"I have my ways, darling." Stolas caressed Blitzo's cheek. "Are you alright?"

"Ugh, I'm fine, Stolas." Blitzo deadpanned.

"Hmm, good." Stolas then sharply pulled him forward. "How the ** did you get caught by humans?! Are you little ones not being careful up here?" While his beak resumed smiling, his eyes were very much still disappointed. "You know, if you get in trouble, I get in trouble. We don't want that!"

Moxxie held off the prince's arm. "They caught us off guard, Your Highness."

"Yeah, you can unclench your bird **." Blitzo nudged the other hand off his cheek. "It won't happen again."

Stolas's tone evened out as he let the matter slide. He glared at the shivering two agents, while also mocking them. He proceeded to open a portal into I.M.P.'s board meeting room. As the rest of the team stepped back into the correct hellhole, Stolas picked up Blitzo like a bride. After a bit of coaxing, they embraced for a passionate kiss along with… other plans.

…

Stella knocked on the bathroom door. "Stolas? Are you almost done in there? I know feathers cover up the appearance, but that doesn't stop the skin from feeling water wrinkles."

She was surprised to find the doorknob unlocked. Further still, she looked around in confusion when she didn't see the owl anywhere. The tub was empty, save for a film of water at the bottom. When she turned around, she noticed a trail of taloned footprints leading into an intricate circle scorch mark.

'A summoning circle?' Stella pondered. 'Did a human summon him for information, or-' She gasped. 'Oh, I remember seeing this before. It was that episode with the dorks and their katanas. Which means, Stolas is currently getting his transactional sex right now.'

She sighed and left the bathroom. She closed the door behind her. 'On the bright side, I get to have a clean master bed tonight.'

(Many days later…)

After dinner, the palace's three royal occupants were playing cards. Stella thought their current game resembled a cross between Old Maid and Bull Crap. Octavia picked up a card. As she set three cards face-down into the pile, the home phone rang. A mist billowed out of the phone with an intricate, cursive sentence.

Stolas gasped. He dropped his cards and gripped his chest tightly. He fell out of his chair as he hurriedly pulled himself across the floor. His first reach for the phone sent the receiver slamming on top of his head. After a groan of pain, he cleared his throat.

"Hello? Hello, Blitzy!"

Octavia quietly grumbled and shoved her cards to the center of the table.

Stella held her cards together and looked down. 'Wait, why do I have a bad feeling about this?'

"Um, why do you ask?" Stolas blinked twice. His eyes widened and his cheeks brightened red. "Are you… asking me on a date?" He stood up and started hopping in place. "I can be ready in twenty!" He closed his eyes and leaned above the phone. "I'll see you, Blitzy!"

After hanging up, Stolas was positively giddy. "He asked me on a date! Oh, my stars! I thought this day would never come!"

Stella shuffled the cards together into a deck and set it down. "Well then, I guess we should get going as well. You'll probably want a comfortable spot to unwind after your night."

"Right." Stolas chuckled. "You know me all too well."

Octavia pulled out her phone and tapped it twice. "I've got the motel on speed-dial."

"Thank you, Via," said Stella. As she stood up, she held her beak. "Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?" After a bit of a hum, she snapped her fingers. "Toothbrushes!" She pushed her chair in. "Walter, ready the car."

"Of course." Walter bowed before walking away.

"Oh, what should I wear?" Stolas rushed over to his closet.

(The next day…)

Despite the last night being uneventful, a sense of unease refused to leave Stella's mind. Was it the motel's poor excuse of a continental breakfast? No, barely edible slop and stale bread was pretty standard. Had it been the little thief that had gotten away with the car's tire? No, they had eight spares. Walter had barely been inconvenienced by the replacement job.

"Is anything bothering you, Via?" asked Stella.

Octavia shrugged. "No more than usual."

Stella felt inclined to believe her. So, if it wasn't any of that, what was nagging at the peahen's insides? She looked out the car window as the ride carried them home. It was the same red sky and the same moody pedestrians as always.

"~Your power is so frail!~"

Stella sat up straight. She recognized that reflective voice anywhere. She turned to look at the other passenger. Octavia's earbuds popped out. She heard the singing as well. As soon as the car pulled up to the palace, Stella stepped briskly inside. Her daughter was a short pace behind.

"~Inside your gilded… jail~"

Absinthe vapors assaulted Stella's sense of smell. After rushing down the halls, she found the master chamber wide open. She saw Stolas, but it wasn't in his birthday suit of a productive night. It was that fancier outfit, the one with the galaxy moving along the cape. Stella's memory finally connected the constellation.

…

"I just can't do it tonight." The imp couldn't maintain eye contact. "I'm sorry."

"Okay." The owl took a step back and bowed. "Goodnight, Blitz."

"Night." The I.M.P. van raced out.

…

Stella took a step toward the balcony, but she hesitated. What was she supposed to say? At this point, she had no idea how the rest of the show progressed. Did the ship get better, or did it sink? She didn't know. She took a breath, exhaled, and rested her arm on the stone rail.

"I take it that the date didn't go so well?" Stella bit her tongue. 'Way to go, Princess Obvious! You want some birdseed for that?'

"It was all a lie."

Stella turned her head. "What?"

Stolas gazed at the clouds. "I kept telling myself that it's what he wanted. He's reciprocating my passion, my image of freedom, my affection… it was all a lie." His mascara had run down his face. "Sure, he used me for my Grimoire. But I made him feel like I was using him to meet some fetish. I told myself he was enjoying all of it, but he wasn't."

Stella looked down. She didn't know if real demons were capable of heartbreak, but this felt close.

"A comfortable lie." Stolas held his head.

Stella's arms whipped around and embraced the man. She didn't have the words. All she could do was be there. She looked up when she felt him shift position.

"Be honest." Stolas looked down. "Why do you stay around me?"

"What do you mean?" asked Stella.

"It's no secret that I'm a mess." Stolas gently held Stella's hand in his own. "We didn't choose to be together. The Goetia family already got what they wanted from me. What do you still see?"

Stella's gaze darted between two points of empty space. Then, she resumed eye contact. "I want to see you happy, and I can't do that if I leave."

Stolas sighed. "Hate to break it to you, but most of my happiness these days comes from a pill bottle."

Stella shook her head. "Happy pills only hinder your ability to suppress your emotions. You need to have feelings at all for them to work. Clearly you do, or you wouldn't be singing about joys and woes."

Stolas lowered his arm. "I really messed things up, last night."

Stella pulled him away from the balcony. "Want to talk about it?"

…

The two of them were seated at the round table in the backyard. The imp maid, whom Stella had started calling Ray, poured tea into two cups. As Stolas pushed himself to recount the night's events, Stella couldn't help comparing what he said to the animation. The cyborg clown, the succubus, and Asmodeus were as she remembered. Though, the duet of Moxxie and Millie joining together in a battle of the bands was a new one.

"By the time I reached out to comfort him, it was already too late." Stolas held his head against his hands. "I should have stood up for my feelings, not hide my face in shame!"

"Well, it sounds like he was using you as an excuse to stalk his employees." Stella fiddled with her teacup.

Stolas glanced in her direction. "Saying his mistake was worse doesn't change the fact that I made one."

"You're right, sorry." Stella pinched her beak. "So, what happened after?"

Stolas took a sip of tea. "He drove me home and I attempted to salvage the night. I offered him wine, a movie night, cuddles." He sighed. "But he was convinced that it was all a front for sleeping with him."

Stella nodded. "I can kind of see why he'd be getting mixed signals."

Stolas held his head again. "I should have done things differently. If I hadn't been so insistent on turning our one-night stand into a monthly transaction, maybe... I don't know."

Stella set her cup down. "You want to know if you could have kept your first friend, even without the benefits."

Stolas sat back. "The damage is already done. I don't know if I'll ever get him back."

Stella held up a hand. "So, what will you do now?"

With a heavy heart, Stolas explained his goal for the near future. Stella hummed in thought.

"I might have an idea." She stood up.

(One month later…)

"Good evening, Blitz." Stella crossed her legs as she sat in her living room.

"Oh, **." Blitzo took a step back, only slowed by the weight of the book in his arms.

"Stop right there!"

His eyes darted around.

"We have some matters to discuss." Stella motioned to the chair with a stack of books on top of the cushion. "Please, have a seat."

Blitzo sighed and dragged his feet closer. He set Stolas's book on the coffee table. He then proceeded to climb up the stack on the chair. His eyes were almost level with the bird demon.

"Alright, look. Can you just use a hot knife?" He scratched his head. "I've already used up the company's medical budget for the next two years, and I am not **ing skimping on Biscuit Queen's grooming again!"

Stella blinked in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

Blitzo was looking more at his open palms than anything. "Well, I was going to call him Stapler, but he seemed more into the drag queen look, so I figured I might as well try to meet him halfway."

"No, not that." Stella waved dismissively. "Why would I need a hot knife?"

Blitzo shrugged. "I mean, I won't judge you if you'd rather use your bare hands. But I don't think you're the type of b** who likes blood on her rich-ass floor."

"I may have missed part of the conversation you're having." Stella raised her brow. "Do you think I'm here to dismember you?"

"Your **ing threat about my horns if I ever broke your husband's heart." Blitzo swiveled his hand. "Ripping them off and making a trophy?"

Stella blinked twice. "I don't remember making such a threat."

"I remember," said Blitzo before adding a quiet, "vividly."

Stella tapped her beak. "Hmm, maybe I'll add that to the back burner. For now, I want to propose an alternative to the deal you have with Stolas."

Blitzo pinched his forehead. "Look, I know my monthly **s with him gross out you and your daughter, but this book is our only way into the living world to do our job."

"But it wasn't always, was it?" Stella folded her hands.

"The ** do you mean?" Blitzo warily eyed her.

"I got a rough synopsis of your first date with my husband," said Stella. "Your ex-girlfriend is a succubus, correct?"

Blitzo opened his eyes wide. Then, he immediately lifted his arms into an X. "No **ing way! I am not fiddling that drunken **'s holes again! I'm not that desperate."

"That's not exactly what I'm suggesting." Stella shook her head. "I was just pointing out that she can visit the living world without a Grimoire. Did you ever ask how she did that?"

Blitzo lowered his arms slowly. "I don't know. Natural-born trait?"

"Surprisingly, no." Stella looked left and right. "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but confidentiality is nearly extinct in Hell these days. In actuality, succubi and incubi get their ability directly from the King of Lust in the form of enchanted crystals."

"So, what?" Blitzo tilted his head. "Asmodeus gets them to do meth and then they ** the humans?"

"Ah ha ha ha ha!" Stella smiled while wiping her eye. "Good one. It's… more like one of those power rings that some comic book heroes had. They just focus their desire into the crystal and that opens the way to Earth."

"Hang on, why are you telling me this?" Blitzo pointed at her. "Is this blackmail to get me in trouble for knowing too much?"

"I'm not bringing this up on a whim." Stella gestured. "We've recently procured an Asmodean Crystal without a designated succubus owner. The proposal is that we let you have it as an alternative to the book."

Blitzo squinted. "What's the catch?"

Stella placed her hand on top of the Grimoire, then tapped it with her index finger. "The catch is that if you accept, this book is off limits indefinitely."

"No, it can't be that **ing easy." Blitzo grit his teeth. "You don't just trade a portal for another portal and call that a catch."

"Oh?" Stella lifted her brow. "From my perspective, you are technically getting the worse end of the deal. The rock is worth fewer resources than this one-of-a-kind heirloom. I'm surprised you aren't demanding more out of this arrangement."

Blitzo crossed his arms. "And you think Stolas is going to let you trade away his only excuse to get horny for his plaything?"

"Let me?" Stella pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "Darling, the crystal was his idea."

Blitzo gasped as the other tall bird of the house appeared. Stolas was cleaned up and wearing his standard outfit. He walked over and knelt before Blitzo. Before the imp could say anything, Stolas gently held his hand and placed a small weight on the red fingers. It was a ring with a light magenta jewel ingrained.

Stolas closed his eyes. "Here, now you can come and go to the living world as you please. You don't have to worry about reading a spell in bad lighting." He backed up before he smiled sadly.

Blitzo looked at the ring, then at Stolas, then at Stella, then back at the ring. "This has to be a trick."

"Test it and find out." Stella lightly pinched her finger. "I suggest the left index."

"Oh, ** that!"

Blitzo defiantly pushed the ring over his right middle finger. As he idly gave it a twist, a tall oval appeared to his left. His jaw nearly dropped as he poked his head through. He saw a mansion that was covered in cobwebs. One of its windows was covered up by a bed sheet and tape.

"Wait, this is that old inventor's mansion."

He twisted the ring again. The scene changed to sand and garbage. The tide was rising in waves, crashing up and down.

"And that beach where the spring-breakers were."

He pulled his head back into Hell. The portal promptly vanished. He laughed in excitement. But he quickly stopped himself and he stared at the Ars Goetia in disbelief.

"You're… serious."

Stella picked up the Grimoire and passed it into Stolas's hands. She asked, "So, do we have an agreement?"

Blitzo looked down between two points in space. The gears in his head were turning. "Why? Why are you doing all of this for me? For I.M.P.?"

"Because I love you!" Stolas blurted out.

Stella pretended to wipe some dust off her dress. As the two halves of her favorite ship stared at each other in shock and silence, she calmly stood up and walked out of the room. She saw tail feathers dash away before Octavia's bedroom door closed. Stella shook her head before continuing on her way.