The Vees were back in their meeting room. They were all sitting around staring at eachother waiting for the other to speak. The room was dead silent.
In the middle of the table sat a very detailed and expensive looking rectangular Radio. On the top left corner is a gold written engraving of "Alastor" followed by a heart that swoops to the right.
Velvette huffed, "Fine since neither of you bastards want to speak up I will." She turned her head to look right at Vox her expression softening, "Vox what is this?" She asked pointing at the radio.
Vox didn't dare look at the radio infront of him. It hurt to much to look at, "it's... it's a 1930's style radio."
Valentino rolled his eyes, "No shit, but what's it doing in the TOWER?!? Are you that obsessed you can't throw this obvious piece of garbage away?!" Valentino looked at the radio and he snarled, "as a matter of fact the fucker could be listening to us as we speak!" Valentino lunged forward to smash it, but Vox jerked forward and snatched it away from him, "OH won't you look at that! He cares more for the prick who left him than for the protection of his own company!"
"Val! Calm down! Vox has his reasons." She looked at Vox who was looking away cradling the radio in his arms, "Vox my dear please answer me." She pleaded with him, but despite her best efforts Vox didn't answer. His eyes were now half lidded and looking far into the distance. He was somewhere else a place deep in his mind that only he could access.
Valentino sighed, "fine- Fine! Who cares if Alastor can hear us or not. It's not like he actually finds Vox a threat."
Velvette growled, "Valentino shut the fuck up!"
Valentino rolled his eyes and put his arms up in defense, "I'm just saying if Alastor actually gave two shits about what he could do, the fucker would have taken him out long ago." Valentino stood up slamming his hands on the table, as he leaned over it to look at Vox, "you're nothing to him, just some entertainment he can use and throw away when ever he likes."
Vox suddenly spun to look Valentino in the eyes, his hypnotic eye going haywire, "SIT BACK DOWN!" His voice crackled and echoed throughout the entire room.
Valentino now dazed slammed himself back into his seat. His body began to shiver uncontrollably at the sudden take over.
"You don't get to run your mouth till you can control your shit, the world doesn't revolve around you." Vox snarled, his claws dug into the table, he widened his hypnotic eye, "Don't speak to me like that again. You'll fucking regret it."
"Vox please calm down." Velvette pleaded, she didn't know what to do, she felt completely helpless.
Vox snapped looking at Velvette, "You can't go around trying to fix everyone you care about. Sooner or later they'll leave you no matter how hard you try to keep them."
Valentino still shaking looked over at Velvette who was to now shivering, "Vox yell at me, I'm being the asshole here. Vel is just trying to help you."
Vox laughed, it was psychotic. "Help me?" His screen began to glitch, "You're selfish, always have been. Did you honestly think I was gonna stay with someone like you?"
Valentino's face contorted, "Selfish? Stay? What are you talking about?"
"Please you've always been like this, theres nothing to change back to." Vox began to twitch, his whole body now convulsing, "go all out and modify yourself, you and I will both know what lurks underneath. Nothing you do will ever cleanse you of that."
Valentino jumped out of his seat rushing to the media overlords side, "Cariño! Are you ok?! I'm sorry, ok? I'm just worried about you, you know how I am."
Velvette was glued to her seat, what was going on!?! She hated that she couldn't stop Her body from shivering uncontrollably, she needed to get up and help Vox. She understood his words weren't meant for her, but the chilling words made her skin turn cold. (Sooner or later they'll leave you no matter how hard you try to keep them.)
Valentino rubbed Vox's shoulders, "Please come back to me. Caro- I care for you, I do! I just get so upset when you prioritize worthless nobodies over us, I just want you to remember your family."
Family? Vox stopped shaking and his system flashed white before his screen udjusted it's own brightness to show his shocked expression.
Velvette to stopped shivering and looked up at the other two. She stared at them for a moment before collecting her thoughts and smirking. She raised a mocking eyebrow at Valentino and joked, "Family you say? I didn't know you cared that much about us."
Valentino's eyes widened realizing the word that had slipped out, he flushed, "Well- It's not that I care that much for any of you fuckers! Its just that I have to! And I can't stand seeing one of my people get hurt over some bastard!"
Velvette smiled, "You're my family." She looked to Vox who was now looking up at the other Vees, "You're my family." Her smile grew huge and sincere, she didn't care if she looked dopey. She pushed the chilling words from Vox into the back of her mind because for the first time in a long time she felt like she belonged somewhere. Even if that place was with two bat shit crazy boys, these boys were her family and she would do anything to protect them.
Vox sighed putting down the Radio on the table, "I don't care about him ok? I- I will do anything in my power to keep you two safe... You're my family." He looked down at the radio knowing he owed the other Vees a proper answer, "This was a gift from Alastor, he gave it to me somewhere in the 1950's, I can't remember the proper dates anymore. I had no clue it still even worked, I keep it cause it holds memories. If it were destroyed I would lose it all." Vox snarled, "Soon though I won't even need it, the update is going to fix everything."
Valentino smiled at Vox, "Damned straight! We'll have this town!"
Velvette began to laugh and the others joined her, "Man despite all the bullshit I have to deal with because of you two, theres no other people I rather spend my afterlife with, I love you guys more than anything!"
The Vees looked around at eachother, finally they were united, a family. It felt as if nothing was going to ever be able to seperate them.
Valentino softly turned Vox's face to look at him, so he could examined the damaged parts of his screen. He looked at where Vox had been clawing at himself earlier and frowned, "We should get you a replacement screen and chip. You might have damaged your memory chip which may be what is causing you to be defective."
It was a good thing Vox was connected to a wireless cloud that copies everything on his chip in real time or else this would have been a bad thing. He also carries several replacement screens for when he gets damaged, which is very often.
Velvette tapped the screen infront of her and ordered one of the bots to bring in a new screen with a chip already inserted.
The bot whizzed in almost immediately and went up to Vox, Valentino moved back to his seat at the other end of the table to get out of the way. Vox took a deep breath bracing himself, as the bot proceeded to grab ahold of him. The bot began to rather brutally dismantle Vox's face. the pain was excruciating, but Vox was use to it. The scene of his face being torn apart was gnarly and gruesome. Sparks of electricity flew everywhere and red and blue fluid leaked from his screen. Though it only lasted for about five minutes, it felt like an eternity... Then it was over. The bot then whizzed away, right back out the door where it came from.
Vox's systems began to turn on. You could hear the loud buzzing of the new monitor starting up. The screen turned blue and a loud ding sounded, as the VoxTech's logo apeared on screen and then his eyes were back. Adjusting himself Vox cleared his throat looking at the other Vees and then proceeded to switched on a device infront of him, "Ok back to business, we need an insider to infiltrate that Hotel." He looked up at the other Vees with furrowed eyebrows, "Alastor may be right. I can't beat him, but we sure can."
"We have to move quickly before Alastor makes any type of deal with Lucifer's little bitch." Velvette reminded, "We can think of how we can defeat Alastor after we have leverage."
"I can't wait to beat that fucker into the ground though!" Valentino laughed slamming his fists on the table before asking, "But Who would be so stupid enough to oppose against the radio demon for us first?"
As if their question was answered the door on the bottom floor slammed open causing an alarm to be set off. Vox's eye softly tiwtched looking at the large TV that loomed over the table that showcased the intrusion. He snarled at his employees who were helplessly trying to stop the guy and what looked to be his minions.
Vox looked at the other two Vees while a wicked smile appeared onto his face, "Well then I think we found him." His voice crackled. And with that he focused his energy into the nearest camera and zapped away in a burst of electricity.
Valentino and Velvette looked at eachother with a raised eyebrows.
"Where iss the boss of thiss place!" The sinner asked with a pointed finger, "I demand to ssee him!"
"Your wish is my command, my fellow sinner." Vox exclaimed as he suddenly appeared infront of the snake man. His hands on his hips and his smile wide. "Welcome to Vox Tech friend! What may I do for you!" He welcomed him.
"Finally! My name is Ssir Pentiouss! Pleasssure to meet you," the sinner smiled holding out his hand which Vox happily shook.
"And my name is Vox! Creator of Voxtech!" Vox looked at this Sir Pentious infront of him carefully choosing his next words, "A man of honor I see! Military I suppose?"
"Ah ha! I consssider mysself a fine general! Thank you very much." He said placing a fist on his chest. Behind him however chaos was insuing as little egg minions terrorized Vox's staff. Pentious didn't seem to mind or notice and continued to speak, "Now time to sspeak of ssomething were both interessted in."
Vox put a arm around Pentious and led him to one of the many office rooms leaving the chaos for his incompetent employees to take care of, "it sure is, I can't wait to listen to what you have to say!" He chuckled, "I see big things coming for you my man!" His voice grew louder and his grin crooked, "big things."
After settling down in an empty office room, Vox put his cupped hands onto the table with his back straight, "What would you like to discuss?" Vox asked eyeing whatever Pentious was fiddling with in his pocket.
"I am here becaussee I would like to announce that I Ssir Pentiouss am the radio demon'sss number one rival!" Pentious nearly shouted.
"Is that so?" Vox's grin tightened as he tilted his screen.
"It iss! And I got proof!" Sir pentious pulled out a piece of fabric and held it up for Vox to see. The fabric was instantly recognizable to Vox. It seemed to have been torn from Alastors waist coat that he never took off, how Vox hated that coat, "With thiss proof I want the world to know who iss the radio demon'ss rival! I am not one to messs with!"
"Oh so it seems you are!" Vox's smile widened again, as he chuckled at the sinners stupidity, "though before we can tell the world just how great of a threat you are... don't you think you should pull an even greater stunt?" His hypnotic eye began to spin, "Something more memorable than a piece of fabric? I'm sure, as the Radio demon's number one rival you understand."
"An even greater sstunt?" Sir pentious thought for a moment, "I ssuppose I sshould, but what sshould I do to prove mysself to the world?"
Vox let out a laugh, "Well Sir Pentious I believe I have just the thing for you!" Vox pulled out one of the many micro cameras that littered the building, "Consider it a job if you will. I would like you to go down to that Hazbin Hotel and infiltrate them by pretending to be one of their own. Once the job is complete I will gladly showcase you to the world." Vox opened his arms wide a manic laugh taking over for a second, "Just think once we have footage what we could do with it! What you could do with it! Sir Pentious! The grand sinner who brought down The Radio Demon and his Dammed hotel!" He cleared his throat before holding out his hand for Pentious to shake, "What do you say Sir Pentious! Rival of the Radio demon! Do we have an agreement?" His voice daunting.
Sir pentious without any thought lunged forward and shook Vox's Hand. He then stood up and proceeded to salute him, "Yess Ssirr!! I am honored to be working with you! Together let us grow sstrong and powerful!"
"As am I to you Sir Pentious!" Vox handed the eager snake man multiple micro cameras and a watch to communicate with him. Vox clapped his hands together his smile twisting into something sinister. Leaning forward his hypnotic eye turned back on, "Don't fail me Sir Pentious, I'll be watching." Vox cackled as he zapped away leaving a nervous Pentious shaking.
Vox appeared Back in the meeting room. Looking around he was then welcomed to silence. The other Vees had left to go deal with the work they were putting off for the last few hours. Vox sighed walking over to the box radio that still sat on the table, untouched from where he last left it. His face now holding a grimace. Twirling the radio around in his hands he hummed looking it over.
Vox thought back to what Valentino asked. Could Alastor actually hear him? Back then he had used the radio to communicate with him, but since it was damaged Vox stupidly thought it couldn't work. He tried turning the nobs on it to see if it would turn on, but nothing happened. The speakers on it were also busted.
"How the fuck-" Vox's eyebrows furrowed setting the radio back on the table. He unscrewed the back of it off and looked inside, it was totally wrecked. He stepped away from the radio. He himself could manipulate damaged technology, but not to this extent. The radio sounded brand new when Alastor was on Air, new enough for a old style radio that is. Vox leaned closer looking at all the messed up parts.
Suddenly a bit of loud Radio static popped causing Vox to stumble back. Vox froze for a moment expecting a voice to emerge after, but it was silent.
Vox lunged forward and snarled picking up the radio, "YOU THINK THAT WAS FUNNY?!" His hypnotic eye turned on, "You're a fucking bastard you know that!"
Silence.
Vox grew angrier, "I know you can fucking hear me you old timey prick!" He shook the Radio and loose broken parts rattled around inside it, "I will find a way to fucking destroy you! I'll make sure you regret the day you ever met me!" Vox slammed the radio on the table, "You were wrong to, you know that!? I have people who actually fucking care about me! A real family! The family YOU could have been apart of!"
Silence.
"ALASTOR!!!?!" Vox screamed out, he needed Alastor to answer him; To notice him.
Silence.
"Alastor!?!" His voice started to strain, the desperation he had bubbling up to the surface. It wasn't fair. All those years he spent with Alastor just for him to be nothing to him. Did he really not care? He heard Alastor say he didn't before, but was it actually true?
Vox knows Alastor better than anyone. He knows the answers to all the questions he keeps asking himself, yet he still begs for them to not be true. He truly is a pathetic groveling creature.
Silence.
"Alastor?" Vox was now pleading, he continued to keep saying Alastors name over and over again, as if his begging was going to make the radio demon answer. How could the fucker toy with some low level sinner, instead of noticing the empire he built?!? Why didn't he even acknowledge that Vox was alive when he first came back?
Silence.
"Al?" Is all he could muster. His voice weak and filled with desperation for the radio demon to notice him again, oh how he missed the attention.
Silence.
~
"Al?"
A 1950's style Vox timidly walked into a small recording studio. His face was of a classic Box Tv with 2 large nobs on the side, his antennae stood large right in the middle and on the top of his head. He wore a simple striped brown suit and brown slackers, his shoes were penny loafers which were of a shade resembling a rich carmel.
"Al? You in here?" Vox called out.
"I'm right here Vox." Alastor answered back, he was busy screwing in his favorite microphone to his recording table.
"Oh Hey! I picked up your coat from the tailers since it was on the way. I thought I'd save you the trip." Vox smiled holding up the coat for Alastor to take.
Vox was easily able to pick up items that belonged to Alastor, or were ordered in Alastor's name. Everyone who knew Alastor knew who he was aswell. He was basically his right hand man. He went everywhere Alastor went. He was Like a good little dog.
"Oh good! I was going to pick that up on my outing today." Alastor exclaimed walking over to Vox to take the coat.
"Are you going to go on air soon? It is about time." Vox asked watching, as Alastor slipped the coat on.
"I am. Care to join me while I'm on air?" Alastor asked as he buttoned up his coat.
"Of course! I'd love to watch you." Vox quickly responded. He almost always stays to watch Alastor go live, but he loves it whenever Alastor specifically asks him to stay.
Alastor grinned pinching the side of Vox's screen, the static electricity buzzing between the screen and his fingers was warm, "Thank you again dear for picking up my coat for me."
"N-no problem Al! Always a pleasure to be of assistance to you." Vox stuttered out, the pixels on his screen darkening into a soft blush.
Alastor squinted his eyes at him and hummed before turning on the heel of his foot and walking back to where his microphone was.
Vox moved to the other side of the room sitting in the chair that Alastor added for him for whenever he stayed to watch. His eyes followed Alastors every move, he was infatuated with him. He knew Alastor knew this. He could never really quite tell what the radio demon actually thought about it though. He always went silent when Vox showed any kind of interest towards him.
Alastor fiddled with some nobs and looked back at Vox. His eyes half lidded. He gave the media sinner a soft smile noticing how he was turning his volume nob to mute himself. Alastor then looked back at the table and pressed a button. A bright red neon sign flickered on signaling He was on air.
Vox leaned back watching as Alastor greeted his listeners. He always had a way with words; He was a joy to listen to. Vox smiled closing his eyes, how he loved Alastors voice. There was no better sound in the world. He sighed, but no noise came out since he muted himself. He didn't want to distrupt Alastors broadcast.
Vox opened his eyes and smiled looking Alastor over, He was an inspiration and everything Vox wanted to be. He was a perfect host and his smile contagious. He's powerful, cunning, handsome, and sinners fear him. Everyone knows who the radio demon is. Vox grinned wondering if one day he could be as powerful as Alastor was. Maybe if he was; Alastor would treat him as his equal, they could even be partners. Two powerful overlords side by side, hell in their grasp. No one would be able to stop them.
Vox now simply listening to Alastor as he spoke softly swayed in his seat. He was letting the sound of his voice fog his mind. His eyes half lidded loving the feeling that wrapped around his entire being.
Alastor softly settled a needle onto a record on his turn table. Soft swing music began to play. His radio show now at intermission. He turned looking at Vox who was watching him. He got up from where he sat and walked over to Vox, "care for a dance?" Alastor asked offering his hand.
Vox widened his eyes in shock and awe. He turned his volume nob to unmute himself, "A dance?" He asked before taking a second glance and then hesitantly took Alastors hand, a shock of static electricity transfering between them, "I'd love to dance with you Alastor." He smiled.
The music was soft, yet up beat. Alastor started by twirling Vox which startled him. Though startled Vox regained himself quickly with a nervous grin appearing on his face. Vox started to sway trying to understand the rhythm.
"What's wrong Vox? Not a good dancer?" Alastor teased already being in rhythm.
"Don't get cocky, I just need to get in the groove that's all." Vox nervously laughed, but was suddenly jerked forward by Alastor.
"Sure, sure. Here I'll get us started, it's swing my dear! just let the music be your guide!" Alastor grasped the others right hand with his left, intertwining their fingers. He then placed his right hand on the other's back pulling him in, the soft warm buzzing of static between them, "Ready Vox?"
Vox turned into a rag doll, the sides of his screen turned 3 shades darker. He took a deep breath before answering, "as ready as I'll ever be." And with that the two began to move. Alastor swayed them before twirling them apart and letting go of Vox who then let himself be taken by the music, his body moving on its own. The two sinners both bouncing and twirling with eachother. The static electricity in the air softening as they moved apart.
"That's it Vox! You're getting it." Alastor exclaimed as his feet shuffled and lifted to the beat.
Vox laughed the up beat swing music bringing a bright smile to his face, "jesus Al! How can you keep up with this music?!"
Alastor chuckled, "Rye whiskey my friend, lots and lots of whiskey!" He twirled as he made two glasses of whiskey appear in his hands. Still dancing he handed one to Vox who happily took it.
"My my! Alastor! What's gotten into you!" Vox exclaimed as he saw Alastor down the entire glass of whiskey in front of him. Vox looked at the glass in his hands and decided to follow suit.
Alastor now slightly tipsy danced around Vox, the static in the air shifting as he grew closer, "What? Is one not alowed to let loose with some fun leisure time?" Alastor chuckled snapping his fingers causing their glasses to refill.
"I suppose so," Vox began to move with Alastor as he circled him, "You should really show me this side of you more often!" Vox stated downing the second glass of whiskey seeing as Alastor kept refilling his own glass, "I would have thought you to be just some boring old soul otherwise!" Vox shouted over to Al as he placed his glass on the table before tapping his way back to their makeshift dance floor.
Alastor moved closer to Vox downing his now 8th glass and then tossing it to the side causing it to shatter, "Maybe I will, if you learn to keep up with me on the dance floor!" The static between them grew heavy and clouded both their minds.
"I will!! Just you watch Al," Vox chuckled as he grasped Alastor twirling him and dipping him, "I'll learn to keep up with anything you throw at me." He laughed pulling Alastor back up.
"I'd like to see you try," Alastor teased. His face flush from the alchohol.
The two sinners laughed together as they danced. They were linked hand in hand swaying and moving back and fourth. Their bodies in perfect unison. The static electricity that surrounded them thick and heavy. And the buzzing it caused when they touched eachother was intoxicating. The moment was perfect. If only this moment could last forever... but soon the music would fade away and Alastor would grow tired.
Notes:
Hope you enjoyed the flashback there will be plenty more to come
Also dont worry Vox will calm down next chapter... or maybe thats what you should actually worry about.