"Hmm…" Charlie hummed. She was lazing on the couch in Alastor's tower, laying in Vaggie's lap and stroking the Angel wing that was cradling her. Alastor was next to them reading some 'research books' that Charlie had shown Vaggie how to summon from the main Hell System Libraries. They were magic books, magic that the Ars Goetia specialized in. Normally only they had access to them. She didn't know what Alastor wanted with them, but it was his prerogative as the Head of Hell to do the research needed to make fair decisions.
Charlie smiled as she simply let herself feel Vaggie's wing in one hand, the sensation of Vaggie's fingers running through her hair…and, of course, Alastor's hands cradling her own in a loose handhold. He was perfectly relaxed as he did so, using his tentacle to both hold the book and turn the page.
It was the sort of domestic scene that Charlie craved . This was her favorite place in the world, relaxing with her two loved ones in a casually intimate moment. She wasn't sure if Alastor understood it entirely.
Charlie looked up at him. He had a serene smile, like he had a nice warm glow in his chest. It pleased her beyond words, him becoming comfortable with what they were doing.
Someday there would be cuddling . Her face turned red at the thought of being sandwiched between them in bed. Did Alastor snore? What about when he slept; did his ears twitch in his sleep?
She was starting to drift off when a loud BAM! made her jump to her feet. Alastor looked up, the only sign he was taken by surprise the wider eyes, while Vaggie assumed a defensive position. Charlie stumbled to her feet to see what had made that-
She frowned. Oh .
A floating parchment, glowing dark purple with a feather tinged with dark magics attached. Charlie didn't even need to look beyond that to know what it was: a summons for the Head of Hell.
Stupid Ars Goetia.
She reached out to grab it. It flashed and shocked her with a bolt of black magic.
"Ouch!" Charlie gasped, flinching back. She looked between her hand and the parchment, surprised. It had never done that before!
"Who did that? " She could tell that Alastor was angry .
"What is that?" Vaggie asked, helping Charlie balance herself.
"It's a summons for the Head of Hell to-" Her head snapped up. Of course! She turned to Alastor. "It's for you. A mediation request. The Ars Goetia haven't done it for a while, involving the Head of Hell."
"They probably think they can get one over on Alastor," Vaggie commented.
"Oh? Haha!" The anger still tinged his voice, mixing with amusement. "Interesting!" His grin grew twisted. "It will be a pleasure to disabuse them of that idea!"
"I'd be careful," Charlie warned. "You took the other three by surprise. Whoever's sending this request has the knowledge that you've at least established enough contacts to know some more intimate details of Ars Goetia society." She paused, then asked, "How did you find all that out?"
"Ah ah ah! An information broker never reveals their sources," Alastor said, tapping the top of Charlie's head. He grabbed the parchment, the document allowing him to. Opening it, Alastor laughed. "Oh goodness! They used the proper High Lemegeton!"
Charlie rolled her eyes. That meant the Ars Goetia making the request was a real pompous twit. She didn't have many beings she felt like that towards. She hoped it wasn't Paimon making the request.
"Hm." Alastor read through the document. "It's some sort of civil case." He glanced at Vaggie. "Sorry, Supreme Magistrate! Looks like you don't get to play ball in this court."
"It's okay. I can be vaguely threatening instead," she offered.
"You can certainly try!" He kept reading, then paused. Alastor asked Charlie, "What were the names of those three little birds we met last week?"
It took her a second to remember. At least, she was pretty sure. "Mando, Tirandel, and Andrealphus."
"Ah!" He snapped his fingers. "It's the one that thought I was clueless making this claim! It's against someone named 'Blitzo'."
Charlie wracked her brain. Finally she said, "That's not an Ars Goetia I've ever heard of."
"Wouldn't it simply be delightful if it were the Imp?" Alastor was clearly gleeful at the idea of working a case like that.
"It probably is." Vaggie sighed. "They chose a really bad time. I was really enjoying myself."
"It was pleasant," Alastor agreed.
Now Charlie was really annoyed at the Ars Goetia. Alastor was openly admitting that he liked it! It would've been perfect to fall asleep to.
"No need to be sad, Charlie!" Alastor misinterpreted her expression. His eyes flashed black, static screeching, as he said, "I'll make sure they understand their folly."
"What could an Ars Goetia want from an Imp?" Vaggie asked, confused.
"It looks like it's for possession of a Hellhound!" Alastor exclaimed.
"Huh." Strangely low-stakes for an Ars Goetia plot. Charlie shook her head. "What's the requested date for the case?"
"Immediately," Alastor replied. "In fact, it requests 'upon receipt of official document'."
"I guess let's go then?" Charlie said as more of a question than anything.
" Where ?" Vaggie asked.
"Push the little glowing box, Alastor," Charlie said, hooking an arm into his. Vaggie followed suit. "You'll know what to do when we get there."
Alastor chuckled to himself about something before he pushed the glowing sigil.
POP!
They burst out from a wormhole directly into the chambers the Ars Goetia had reserved. Charlie was familiar with the process enough that she knew to immediately drag Vaggie to the gallery. As she expected, Alastor went up front and assumed the seat of the judge.
Charlie now let herself look at the two sides. The plaintiff's side had Andrealphus sitting in the front right table as the Chief Claimant along with two other Ars Goetia. The defendant's side was empty save for a nervous-looking Ars Goetia. His name was…Stolas? Charlie was relieved Paimon wasn't present.
"So! I see we aren't quite ready to begin. Why was I summoned before all parties were present?" Alastor asked, an edge of annoyance in his static voice.
"This was a set-up!" Stolas said sternly. "They knew they could do nothing to me so they're going after my Blitzy!"
"Ah yes, the defendant." Alastor summoned papers and sorted them, likely just for the effect. "When will they be arriving?"
There was the sound of yelling from outside the door. The voice was strangely familiar.
Stolas perked up. "Yes! He's coming, I hear him now."
Charlie turned towards the doors in the back, curious. There was obviously a lot of swearing.
"-FUCKSTICK!" boomed from an Imp entering by kicking the doors open. Charlie instantly recognized him. Then she cringed. He was definitely going to regret yelling at them at the park. The Imp marched to the plaintiff's side and began ripping into them. "You FUCKS think you can take my baby away from me?!"
"Your 'baby' is a Hellhound. Property by Hell laws," Andrealphus noted with a smirk. "I won't tolerate the danger you'll be putting my dear niece in by allowing that creature near her."
"You tried to KILL me AND her!" Stolas snapped.
Charlie looked up at Alastor and knew that he had some particular words ready for the defendant. He was likely waiting for the Imp to catch on.
"I was not involved with that." Andrealphus glanced at Alastor who gave him a cheeky little wave. He corrected, "Directly."
"Who is-" The Imp finally saw Alastor and pointed accusingly. "YOU! What in the holy Hells are YOU doing here?!"
"Ah yes. We never did exchange pleasantries when you came to verbally harass myself and my loves. I shall correct that!" Alastor straightened up and said, "I am Alastor, the Radio Demon, betrothed to Vaggie and Princess Charlie, and the Head of Hell!"
"What the Hell does that mean?" the Imp obviously whispered to his Ars Goetia partner.
"That means he's in charge," Stolas replied.
"What?! Him?! " The Imp stared at Alastor.
"Yes, I'm glad you remember me! What was it you called me as you were dragged away? 'Pencil dick'?" Alastor's grin indicated to Charlie that he was more amused than angry.
"Uhm…no! Not you!" The Imp wildly looked around the room before randomly pointing at Charlie. "I was calling her that!"
Now he was getting angry. "You mean my wonderful bride, Princess Charlie?"
"Princess who? Princess of what?" The Imp was confused while Stolas was rubbing his head.
"You're calling the Princess of Hell a pencil dick," Andrealphus clarified smugly.
"Oh. Oh ." The Imp flinched as he mumbled, "We are so fucked."
"Not necessarily!" Alastor said cheerily. "The plaintiff over there ruined a perfectly good date night that meant quite a bit to myself and my loves. As I see it, you've both set yourselves up on the wrong foot! I detest you both the same amount. Now then!" He snapped his fingers, materializing a gavel, frock, and wig. "Let's get this little court session in order!"