Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end;

Or be paused, for the time being.

Alastor was roused from their rest early the following morning by the shrill sound of the phone ringing, prompting him to untangle their still-sweat damp skin and stalk down the hallways, muttering curses all the way there. The rest of their morning had gone slowly, with Alastor not returning to bed until nearly an hour later. His careful crawling back under the comforter had woken her, Clover's head lifting from the pillows to allow his shoulder to slip beneath her cheek before she drifted back into the somewhere between waking and where dreams are made.

Her consciousness flickered like a film reel, it's still images hung up on wires and painted a vivid crimson; Unlike the dark rooms she'd seen before, the air did not assault her senses with the acrid scent of chemicals, but instead hung heavy with the smell of tobacco, brandy, and warm spices roasted over an open flame. When she pressed her cheek to the room's heavy door it moved beneath her, rising and falling with the steady rhythm that matched her own breathing, and she could hear something beating against the walls of whatever hallway lay beyond the lock with no key. She turned to the pictures when it did not give to her restless prying, pacing along the lines of pictures that dripped sentimentality into the vats below. No matter how high she rose up onto bare toes, it was never close enough to truly make out their subject; Every image was blurred, lacking the substance and contrast needed for clarity. The only thing she could make out from them all was that one milky swirl of color appeared in every single one, a mass of white and red that stood out from the other more faded tones that surrounded it; Clashing pink, cool blues, faded golds, and sickly violet.

One photo caught her eye, a stark white floating in the only tray that still held fluid, and Clover found herself drawn towards it; But when she reached out, what she pulled from the liquid was not film, but parchment. Its ink transcript bled, smearing beneath her thumbs as she attempted to wipe it clean of vicious crimson to better read the words, but it was no use- The words bled together like streetlights in fog, curling cursive melting into the paper as it turned to ash in her palms and fell to the gore beneath to turn it a muted gray. Clover didn't mind though, not when another paper floated up to the top of the tray to take its place. Just when she'd begun to squint at the slowly scrawling script appearing on the blank page, the door swung open with a clatter to pour sunlight into the darkroom, and she sprung to action to tear the photos from the line before the light could ruin their development. She hurriedly clutched them to her chest, the far-off thumping from the hallway began to pick up speed as she pulled their silk against her skin-

"Clover, darling, I think it's time you wake up,"

Alastor's voice sounded so far away, even as her eyes blinked open to find him looking down at her with that adorably warbled smile of his. His brow creased as he craned his neck back and cupped her cheek in his palm, dark eyes darting over her face as she slowly dragged herself out of unconsciousness.

"Were you having a nightmare?"

"No, I- I don't think so," Clover's fingers uncurled from where they'd clutched the sheets one at a time, her joints slowly unlocking themselves with a soft crack as she stretched and collapsed back against his chest. "It was just- Strange. That happens sometimes when I fall in and out of sleep. I get really weird dreams."

"Then I must apologize for waking you earlier, for I could have saved you from this distress."

"It's okay- Who was on the phone?"

"That was Rosie, wondering when would be a good time to drop by to discuss Colony business," Alastor combed his fingers through her hair, tucking it behind her ear before tending to the ruffled mess mockery of fringe that stuck out over her forehead. "Though I have my suspicions that is just a clever ruse to pry about you."

"And what will you tell her?"

"I'll only admit to what she's assumed of us since the moment she met you, dear. Rosie is a very perceptive woman, which is a terrible compliment to her habit for gossip."

Clover hummed with contemplation. Rosie had obviously been visibly taken with the idea of the two of them from the second she'd laid eyes on Clover all those months ago, even if then she'd ignored all the signs at the time. Words returned to her mind now, laying over the flashes of the extravagant dress and its curled calling card as it sat open in its box on her lap, of barely concealed insinuations she'd forced herself not to linger on in those nights she'd laid awake without him-

"I am so glad you're expanding your horizons Alastor,"

If only Rosie could have known how right she had been, Clover thought as Alastor paused his petting of her hair to roll his neck experimentally and revealed a flash of the dark, still healing bruises that surrounded the indents her teeth had left behind.

"Shall we get you back to the hotel? They must be worried about you," Alastor's claws slipped from the strands of her bangs as Clover collapsed into his chest with a reluctant groan, and she could hear the smile in his voice as he continued. "I must admit, I'm a bit afraid of what has come of the hotel in my absence."

"I bet Vaggie is on a warpath."

"According to Husker, you're quite right. It seems our comrades have been driving him up the wall with questions- Enough so that he's threatened to enact our contract, among other things."

His fingers fidgeted, betraying the casual tone of his conversation. She'd noticed him becoming restless, Alastor disappearing into his office for hours while she lounged in the library or leaving her to nap in his bed after an afternoon delight. As curious as she was to what had suddenly come to the forefront of his mind, she thought it best to leave him to his work and took no offense to the fleeting moments of solitude. Truth be told, even she had begun to feel claustrophobic after however long they'd spent together; That was yet another testament to how well-matched they were, in her humble opinion.

"Well-" Clover heaved herself upright with a cracking of her spine as she stretched her arms to the sky, only to drop them heavily to the bed on either side of him. "If I'm going home this evening then you'd better get to thinking of an outfit to conjure me to wear home. I can't go running about the Colony in my nightgown twice in one month."

Alastor's brow rose, hands folding over each other across his stomach as he watched her roll her neck to either side, ears twitching at the soft groan she gave as she did.

"And why not? You can very well do anything you please as far as I'm concerned."

"Uh-huh," She snorted. "Alastor you're far more territorial than I think you realize."

The chuckle that he gave to that rose the hairs on the back of her neck, and Clover did her best to ignore it in favor of untangling herself from the bed sheets so they could attempt to start their day without any- Distractions.

"Darling, I think it's rather impossible to forget the faults in my character when you've got quite the talent to point them out-"

"I never said it was a bad thing, you're just protective…And a little selfish, but so am I."

Alastor grinned as she cut him off, and leaned forward to catch the finger she'd held up to shush him in his palm. Gently he twisted her arm and pressed a kiss to her wrist, his teeth catching the skin as his smile shifted to one side, before reaching out to tilt her chin side to side with the tips of his fingers.

"Green is quite the flattering color on you, you know, even if I am partial to what the warmer shades do for your complexion." Quickly tapping a finger to her nose as she sputtered, Alastor hopped to his feet with a flourish and continued on with the conversation, filling the room with a bombastic blowing of horns as he threw open the curtains. "Speaking of! Knowing our dear friend, Rosie, that phone call was much more than an attempt to pry. I suspect there will be a package arriving sometime before tea time if it's not waiting downstairs for you already!"

Just as Alastor said, there was a box sitting on the kitchen table with a card tucked beneath its shiny satin bow. She settled in to open it once coffee had been acquired, her ice tinkling in its glass as she set it on the table beside the assortment of pastries Alastor had brought home the day before. Clover could feel Alastor watching over the top of his paper as she timidly tugged at the ribbons, allowing it to unfurl in its own time as her nerves began to grow. Accepting gifts was something she'd been forced to become more accustomed to in light of recent events, but it would take much longer for it not to churn her stomach with an odd sense of guilt she wasn't quite sure of the source of- But the fluttering excitement that broke through her trepidation she curiously peeled back the paper was probably a step in the right direction.

Alastor abandoned his charade in favor of leaning forward as Clover began to unpack the heavy box, his smile growing wider with every piece she laid across the back of her chair.

The sun had just begun to sink towards the horizon as the door to the Radio Tower swung open with a clatter that roused the roosting ravens and sent them scattering to the skies, their cries outdone only by the bright sound of a trumpet as a steady swing filled the busy street. Demons dressed in all manner of turn-of-the-century attire stopped in the streets, some necks snapping to look around while others leaned out of open windows to see what had disrupted their quiet evening.

"Now then! Shall we take the scenic route?"

When the Radio Demon stepped out from his shadows, the onlookers scurried to appear unbothered by his racket- But as a second figure emerged from the darkened doorway, shrugging her coat over her shoulders as she turned to look up at the Overlord at her side, they couldn't help but stare.

"It is nice out.."

"Splendid!"

Delicate black gloves took their place on his arm as the Radio Demon offered it to her, fingers twisting into the fabric of his coat as Clover became aware of the audience they'd gathered. A final glance down at the swishing silk armor she'd donned for the day gave her the reassurance she needed, and Clover rose up onto her toes to place a chaste kiss on Alastor's cheek, allowing her heels to clack back against the stone with finality.

And with that, they were off.

The warm red of the afternoon sun stretched shadows to their limits, the shapes of skyscrapers and lamp posts weaving into a dark carpet that the duo gladly walked together, arms intertwined as they all but skipped to the easy swing that accompanied them. Clover felt ten feet tall despite the modest height of her heels, black mary-janes stepping in time with Alastor's shiny back shoes as they swiftly left solitude behind. Heads turned at every corner, pretentious patrons of the many posh establishments that dotted the Colony streets dropping all pretenses to gawk openly at such a brazen display of devotion as it stalked past them. The tiny red imprint of Clover's lipstick was nearly invisible against Alastor's dark skin, but the knowledge of it swelled enough pride in her chest that it would have lifted her to the skies if she'd not been tethered down by him, and she squared her shoulders as a gaggle of giggling gruesome girls stopped dead in the street ahead of them. They each blinked in turn, black sockets shifting between the two red-dressed demons before they surged forward, their heels a clicking stampede as they struggled to keep up with the couples quick pace.

"Alastor!"

"We haven't seen you in weeks, we thought-"

"Well, I saw him at the bakery the other day, you know."

"Did you? Why, I didn't see you there! I must have been distracted, I've been awfully busy," Alastor quickly cut off their chatter, his grin pushing further towards his temples as he gave Clover a sly wink. "You understand, don't you girls?"

"Why of course!"

"We just hadn't had the chance to thank you for the meal!"

"You are such a dear, leaving the bodies out for us. And they were so fresh!"

One, the one who had called out to them in the first place, must have noticed the way Clover's eyes had widened at the turn in conversation. Her hat's feathers swayed as she looked quickly between them, and Clover was a bit worried they'd fall off entirely before the demon's eyes stopped on where they were connected; Alastor's hand lay over Clover's as it clung to his arm, dark gloves melting together in the shadow of his form except for the bright flash of red at the tip of his thumb as it stroked over the back of her hand.

"Alastor, you rascal! You haven't introduced your friend yet."

"My Miss Maisey, you never gave me the chance!" Alastor didn't miss a beat, his quick steps matching the heavy, marching pace his music had taken on as he tugged Clover an inch closer and gestured toward her with an open palm. "This is my girl, Clover- But I'm sure you've heard since you've never been behind on the town's talk before."

"This is her?" The demoness- Maisey, Clover assumed- did not seem shocked at the revelation, but still scrutinized Clover's appearance before continuing. "She looks much smaller than she sounded on the radio."

"Doesn't everyone when they're walking next to him?"

A roaring laugh track echoed off the brick walls that had come to surround them, the road slowly narrowing to its dead-end just beyond the path toward the more modern part of the city. Alastor seemed absolutely floored with Clover's addition to the conversation, letting his radio's reaction go on far longer than he usually would as the girls joined in to titter alongside it. They left them at the street corner to gossip further as Alastor helped her the small staircase that connected the sunken streets of the Cannibal Colony and the more modern asphalt of the affluent areas of Pentagram City. Heads continued to turn as they made their way towards the hotel, only pausing on their path so Clover could peer into the warmly lit windows of the cafe as they passed by.

Cyrus froze once he saw her, his hand fisted into the towel he so often draped from his shoulder as he stalled his ceaseless wiping of the counters. Clover wiggled her fingers in a wave, and she grinned as he returned it with a flick of his tongue, his eyes darting frantically across her figure for a moment before his shoulders sank with a heavy sigh. Stepping back from the glass, she watched as Alastor's reflection nodded his head beside her, his grin a sickly yellow in the lantern-like light streaming from within the coffee shop and his wide shoulders shaking with soft laughter as Cyrus feigned a tip of his non-existent hat and turned his back on the two to continue his work.

They'd just begun to step away when Clover spied herself on the window's spotless surface; She couldn't help reflecting.

Rosie's work was impeccable as always, not a stitch nor pleat out of place and every detail refined down to the last velvet-coated button- Though Clover was not keen to wonder why she'd known that a high neckline was needed, as much as she enjoyed its curved collar and dainty lace decoration. Her body shifted as Alastor stalled beside her, tugged gently by his momentum to move on so her skirt swayed across the tops of her knees and her coat slid slightly off one shoulder. Puffed sleeves disappeared beneath the crimson lining as Alastor stepped behind her to readjust it, the leather of his gloves sliding across the tiny caplet attached to its neck before his fingers tucked under the coat's lapels. Clover leaned back into the solid weight of him to watch under painted lashes as he refined the creases with a flick of his wrist, and she had to resist the urge to shiver as his breath blew hot against the tiny sliver of skin between the curl of her hair and coat collar. Alastor's attire was all the more striking when set against the deep black of her woolen outerwear, its interruption keeping the deeper, berry tones of her blouse from clashing too abruptly against his crimson. Her hand shifted up to take his, interlacing their fingers against the tiny rose woven into her breast pocket, keeping him where he was for a second longer so she could properly take in their portrait.

If there had been a moment she'd missed her camera most since its destruction, it was this one.

A blonde head poked itself out from behind the bar, Cyrus's scales seeming to bristle as he spied them still standing outside his window. Clover had barely read his hissing "You fuckin' need something or-" through the glass before her giggles made it grow hazy with condensation, and the slow roll of his eyes as she stuck out her tongue in response was evidence enough that he wasn't in the mood for their antics.

"C'mon, we better move before he yells at us to buy something," Clover snorted, ducking under Alastor's arm with a tiny twirl before landing beside him with a bounce of her toes. "We'll probably be seeing him later anyway."

The hotel was, thankfully, still standing as they stepped under its awning; The doorknob shined as if freshly polished, the carpet beneath their feet as Alastor held open the door for them seemed cleaner than she remembered, and the shadowed corners she'd grown used to now glowed with fresh light fixtures affixed to every corner. If she'd not spent so much time with him herself, she might have expected this to be Alastor's doing by the aesthetics of it all, but even then you could never be sure with the Radio Demon.

Husk's head lifted abruptly from where he'd been idly shuffling cards as the door clicked closed behind them, his wings ruffling irritably as he stepped out from behind the bar and stalked towards Alastor with a scowl.

"It's about fuckin' time!"

"And a good evening to you too!" Alastor chimed back as he took Clover's coat and gloves from her.

"Shut the fu-" Husk groaned, glaring at Alastor from between his claws as they dragged down his face before they reached out to take Clover by the shoulders. He held tight as he looked her over, his ears laid flat against his head as pin-point pupils made double sure that all her limbs, and their attachments, remained intact; It wasn't long before guilt began to sit heavily in her stomach, turning her voice weak when she offered a lack-luster greeting.

"Hey, Husk."

His lazy smile lessened the worried furrow that had formed between feathered brows, Husk's eyes slowly dilating back to their normal narrow slits.

"Hey, kid."

"I'm sorry for-"

"Don't you dare fuckin' mention it, it's water under the bridge, got it? You did the right thing-" Husk's nose twitched, his eyes widening a fraction before they dropped to the floor as he mumbled to himself. "Maybe that wasn't the best choice of words- It doesn't matter! I just wanna' know that you're okay, okay? If he's been a pain in the ass just tell me, n' I'll take care of it."

Clover was halfway through thinking up some quip about Husk's almost fatherly concern for her, but then the hard line of his mouth and the sharp look he sent Alastor stopped her tongue in its tracks. Heat flooded Clover's skin from the tip of her ears to her toes as the realization hit her. Her voice became a squeaky whisper as embarrassment took its hold on her vocal cords, but she had to reply, because staying silent felt like it opened too much opportunity for speculation upon Alastor's honor.

"He was a perfect gentleman, Husk."

They knew- Or Husk did, at least, and if Husk knew then it was safe to assume he'd told-

"With what you twos was doin'? I fuckin' hope not."

Angel Dust grinned at the trio of sighs that filled the room, and the rest of him quickly rounded the corner as Clover ducked under Husk's arms before any of them could blink. She collided with Angel in a mess of limbs that swung wildly around the room as her momentum sent them spinning, and over their giggling, she could vaguely hear the sound of voices warning them when they spun too close to the furniture over their laughter. The tension she'd developed in the last few moments melted into the four arms that held her tight despite their owner doing his best to aid in her embarrassment as often as possible- It was a wonder what time apart did for all manner of relationships, but perhaps that was more a testament to her bonds than it was to time. Her heels thumped against the carpet as Angel set her down again, holding her at arm's length to give her outfit an appreciaive eyerow wiggle before he whistled long and loud enough for the rest of the hotel to hear.

It was mere seconds that she'd been let go before she was caught up in another hug, and Clover sputtered as she was met with a mouthful of blonde she could do nothing about when held so tightly, her arms curshed helplessly against her sides. Charlie let go when Vaggie cleared her throat, finally recognizing how awkward the moment had become as she smiled sheepishly and gave Clover the fifth once-over she'd had this evening.

"You're back!" Charlie said, her eyes darting between Alastor and Clover with impressive speed. "Are you- You look great!- But are you okay?"

Clover did her best to appear neutral as she pried her hands from Charlie's, patting the princess's hand reassuringly as she sought out the comfort of Alastor behind her. Warm leather slid against her palm as their fingers laced together, and every eye locked on the motion for a moment that felt like forever. When she looked up at him, his smile was already waiting for her, steady and strong despite the soft lines it pressed into his cheeks- It grew wider as she finally gave her answer, and Clover couldn't bring herself to look away, no matter how impolite it felt to not address Charlie directly.

"I've never felt better."

"After the week you've had, I bet."

The additional tease was tinted with a giggle, and Clover turned to find Lollie grinning at them both around the stick of a sucker, her hips swaying with every step as she swerved the disapproving glare of Vaggie on her path to join the party. Alastor's smile remained easy despite the reluctant sigh he gave as he turned to address their newest addition, his eyes narrowing almost-fondly beneath a quirked brow.

"A pleasure as always, Miss Pops."

Lollie's hip bumped playfully into Clover's before she turned to Alastor, her nose wrinkling in that arguably adorable way it did when she was about to say something especially cheeky.

"Heard your broadcast, Red Hot, it was a real hit- Especially down in the entertainment district! You would'a thought the market was crashin' again with how the suits all reacted." Lollie's eyes gleamed, her voice dripping with sickly sweet satisfaction as she shared a meaningful smile with Alastor, before tacking on a little more with a tilt of her head in Clover's direction. "Heard you too bunny, n' I think you should be a returning personality. Could add a little extra 'umpf', ya' dig?"

A little wiggle and a wink sent a bristle of concern spiraling down Clover's spine to curl in her stomach, wondering if and how Lollie could possibly know what had happened after they'd switched to the musical portion of their broadcast, but a soothing touch over the back of her neck silenced her worries- She knew better than to assume Alastor would ever share her in such intimate fashions, even accidentally. His touch lingered there in the swollen silence that followed, the only sound static and the sharp "crunch" of Lollie's sucker as she snapped it between her teeth, leaving space for Clover's cheeks to grow unbearably warm.

Veggie shifted uncomfortably across from them, and Clover's suspicions that the conversation had been stunted intentionally had just taken root when Alastor's radio roared to life and sent a shock through them all.

"¡Carajo! Why you little-"

"Well!" Alastor clapped his hands together, ignoring the steaming Vaggie that had begun to stalk toward him in favor of gently corralling Clover towards the staircase. "I'll let you settle back in, I need to see a man about a drink in the meantime."

As if on cue, Husk reached out to ruffle Clover's hair, narrowly avoiding flopping her ears into her eyes before he sulked back towards the bar and produced a bottle of whiskey from behind the counter. Two glasses were filled, and one was quickly emptied by the bartender before it was topped up again, Husk pausing his pouring when he noticed Clover watching for a beat before offering her the bottle.

"Need a drink, sweetheart? Don't tell me he's not been waterin' ya'."

Before Clover could even think through his turn of phrase Lollie shimmied her way in between Alastor and Clover, linking her arms with the former and reaching out her free hand for Angel as she spoke.

"We've got her from here Cat Daddy, I'm sure Ange' and I have a few bottles between us upstairs."

It was a helpless cause, fighting against the two saucy sinners that were dragging her towards her bedroom upstairs, for not even Clover's tripping over her two feet nor Charlie's stuttered exclamation that they technically couldn't keep liquor in their bedrooms could stop them now that they'd been given the easy out. Her heels struggled to find traction against the carpet, Angel snickering at the huff she gave him when he tucked his arms under hers and lifted her up the first four stairs, leaving Lollie behind to close out the conversation.

"Oh! And Alastor?"

The mention stilled the room, all eyes turning to Lollie. She twisted around just as she passed the stunned figures of Charlie and Vaggie, flipped hair swinging around a wide smile as she pulled the stained sucker stick from between her lips, and playfully licking at her thumb before dragging it across her cheek.

"Ya' got a little schmutz, right there."

Alastor tilted his head back with a laugh, lazily dragging his fingers across his face and finding the red stain of lipstick still stuck to his cheek with uncanny precision. His expressing turned dark as he looked down and saw its residue on the leather of his glove, his eyes narrowing as they lifted to find Clover watching with bated breath; All it took was the slightest twitch of his brow, his smile dropping slightly at one side as the color faded into the warming flush forming on his cheeks, for Clover to shoot him a sheepish smile and take off up the staircase before he could change his mind with Lollie and Angel hot on her heels.

They'd only reached the hallways before she found the need to slow down, confident that Alastor would be too properly preoccupied with whatever business he had with Husker and Vaggie's undoubtedly endless amount of nagging to come after her. The three runaways collapsed against the wall in a fit of giggles, Lollie outlasting them all with hiccuping hysterics she hid in Clover's shoulders and before they finally faded with a dreamy sigh.

It all went to hell again as Angel's face broke out into a wicked grin, and he asked the question she'd been dreading all too loudly, its volume only beaten by the resounding response from both Clover and the patrons of the bar below.

"So, did ya' pop his cherry or what?"

"ANGEL!"