I 100% forgot to upload this story onto here and went straight to AO3. Sooo, here's seven chapters in one go.

First up, Clara notices that Zesital is trying to court Carmilla. Obviously, she goes to the expert for advice.

~Enjoy

A single knock pulled Carmilla's attention from the blueprint spread out across her desk. Calling out for them to enter, red eyes met green as the tall figure entered her office.

"Zestial?" The weapons dealer scanned her mind, trying to recall if she had scheduled a meeting with the Spider Demon. "What brings you here?"

"Good even, Carmilla." Zestial greeted as he stalked towards her desk. Coming to a stop beside the desk, the dark figure tilted his head. "Have I come an ill time? Thou look distressed."

Carmilla waved him off. "It's nothing. Just a headache, my friend."

"Ah! I hath come barring a remedy." Opening his coat, Zestial revealed a white plastic travel mug. Reaching out, he offered the white-haired overlord the cup. "Lavander tea. Should'st it aid with thy headache."

"Oh, thank you." Carmilla offered a small, grateful smile as she took the cup out of his hand. Before she could say anything else, another knock echoed throughout the room. "Come in."

"I have the latest inventory reports ready for you mom... and Zestial?"

"Greetings Clara." Zestial nodded to the curly haired girl. "How fare thee today?"

"I'm good. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Nonsense. I shall take my leave. Good day."

"What's that?" Clara's eyes fixed on the white cup in her mother's grip. Her mother rarely left her office, let alone to get something as trivial as coffee.

A smile appeared on the Overlord's face as she held the cup to her lips. "Lavender tea. Zestial mentioned it help with headaches."

"Well, you might want to drink it now. You have a meeting with Vox about the upgraded security systems in twenty minutes."

Carmilla sighed.

"Are you ready? It's almost time to leave." Clara said as she flopped down in the chair across from her sister's desk. Just like their mother, both girls had their own offices in the Carmine building. Unlike her own on the development floor, Odette's could be found in the center of business. "And I think Zestial's courting mom."

Odette adjusted her glasses as she looked up from the clipboard in her hand. "I'm sorry? What did you just say?"

Clara gave a toothy grin. Odette may have claimed that she was 'too mature' for such things as office gossip, but the youngest Carmine knew better. Especially when it pertained to their mother and the Spider Demon. "I think Zest's trying to court mom."

Odette sighed, placing her projected sales report down. Glancing at the clock she noted that her sister was correct. They had a delivery to make. Standing from her desk, she walked towards the door, her sister matching her steps. "What would give you that idea?"

"He brought her lavender tea today from that special little cafe in his side of the 'Gram. You know, the one she really likes."

"Okay. And? They always drink tea when he's here."

"It's not just that though. Did you notice the new drawing kit in her desk?"

"No, I don't go through mother's desk."

"Mhm. Sure you don't. You know which one I'm talking about though. The fancy steel one?"

"What about it?"

"Specialty made so her blueprints are more comfortable to make." Clara said triumphantly.

"You don't think it's weird that he keeps giving her things?"

"They're business partners and friends. What do you expect?"

"He doesn't give Vox anything."

"Would you give Vox anything?"

"Fair."

Coming to a stop, the Carmines exited the black van. Walking to the back of the van, an enthusiastic call caught the girls' attention. "Odette, Clara! How have you been darlings?" Rosie pulled the girls into a hug.

"We're good." Clara returned her hug. After a minute she stepped back and gestured to the two wooden crates behind them. "We brought the shipment you requested."

Odette handed off the clipboard and a pen to the Overlord. With a wave of her hand Rosie's signature appeared on the line. As always, the 'R' was large and loopy and the 'i' was dotted with a skull.

"Wonderful! Boys! Get over here!" Rosie shouted into her megaphone. Four dapperly dressed cannibals shuffled over to the girls. The four men broke into pairs of two, lifting the boxes out of the van. "Put 'em in the back room of the parlor, will ya?" She watched with careful eyes as the men picked up the boxes. Once they were out of sight, she turned her attention back. "Say, how about you two take a rest and we can catch up?"

Both girls shared a look. Odette shrugged, placing her clipboard on the floor of the van. "We've got time."

With a quick text to her mother, to let the matriarch know that they'd be staying a little longer than planned, Clara turned to follow Rosie into the Emporium. The darling cannibal shuffled the girls over to a covered round table. The three women each took their seats as Rosie poured them some tea.

Clara caught her sister's eye as she nodded her head towards Rosie. Odette just gave a single quick shake. The eldest was certain that of all the beings they knew, Rosie would be the one to give the best advice on whether her sister's hairbrained idea was right or not. But she refused to be the one to open that can of worms. Clara wiped the flat stare as she cleared her throat. "Um. Aunt Rosie? How can you tell if someone is interested in you? Like trying to court you?"

Black eyes lit up with excitement. Placing her cup back down onto its saucer, Rosie clapped her hands together. "My my is it finally that time! Tell me aaaall the details! Is he tall? Handsome? How many souls does he own?"

"It's not-"

Leaning to the side of her chair, she rested her head in the hand that sat against the arm of the chair. The other hand waved nonchalantly a couple times. "Oh, silly me. I didn't even consider that it was a her! Go on! Tell me all about this mysterious lover of yours. Does your mother know?"

"Actually," Odette began. "It's not about us."

"You see... We have this... friend. Yeah. Um. And there's this guy that keeps bringing her gifts."

Rosie straightened back up in her seat. "Do tell! What kind of gifts? Are they expensive?"

"We don't, think so? Usually it's her favorite foods."

"It's the thought that counts! You know, my second husband always said the way to a woman's heart was through her stomach! Thinking back though, I think it was just his favorite part if ya know what I mean." Rosie chuckled fondly. Black eyes softened as she folded her fingers together. Leaning on the table, she rested her head on her fingers. "This friend of yours wouldn't happen to be a certain angelic arms dealer, would it?"

"I- um."

"Whaaat. No way." Clara said awkwardly, fixing her gaze out the window.

"Because it sounds a lot to me like tall, dark, and spooky is finally making a move."

"You've noticed it too then?" Odette questioned. If Rosie noticed it, then her sister was right.

"Darlings, I've known Zestial a long time. Let me tell you, there's very little the Spider Demon truly cares about. But your mother, she's got his web wrapped around her finger."

Clara let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't think she's noticed though!"

"She is a little dense. Don't tell her I said that." Rosie gave a wink. "Tell ya what. Why don't you two just give it some time. I'm sure they'll figure it out. And if not, then you could always give The Big Web some tips."

"Odette, how fare thee this day?" Zestial's haunting voice questioned as he ducked into the office. Both daughters sat in their respective chairs opposite their mother's desk. Clara scrolled idlily through VoxTok. Odette opted to finish going over the quarterly export reports.

"Good afternoon, Zestial. I'm well. Yourself?" The bespeckled daughter asked as she lifted her eyes from her report.

"Well.

"I come baring muffins."

Clara perked up at the mention of food. Eyes sparkling, she looked to the eldest Overlord. "Muffins? Are they from Sweeties?"

"Indeed." Zestial chuckled. Reaching into the blue paper bag, the Spider Demon pulled out two large muffins. "Chocolate chip for thou, Odette. And blueberry for thee, Clara." He said, gently depositing the baked goods in front of the girls. Rolling the bag back up, he placed it in the center of Carmilla's desk.

"You're the best!" Clara took a giant bite of the still warm pastry.

Setting her report to the side, Odette lifted her own gift off the desk. Adjusting her glasses, she gave Zestial. "Mom's in a meeting at the moment. Would you like to wait with us?"

"I shall take my leave." Zestial gave a small bow to the girls. "Pleasure as always Odette, Clara. I bid thee adieu."

Just before he could leave the room, Clara called out to him. "Hey, Zestial? Are you trying to court our mother?"

The Spider Demon paused for a moment, considering his words carefully. It wasn't as though he was hiding his attempts to win over Carmilla's affections. Though, he knew all too well that her daughters' opinions held the most weight. "Wouldst, it bother thou if I were?"

"Not at all." Clara exclaimed excitedly. "I'm rooting for you!"

Odette gave a quick nod. "Me too."

"If you need any tips, just let us know."

"I thank thee for thy offer and will do well to remember."