Chapter 8: The Fine Print
"Alright," Charlie clapped her hands together as she stood up, "I think that wraps up how things are running for the hotel this past week. Does anyone have anything else they'd like to add before we close out our check-in meeting?" She looked around the waiting room with a smile.
The two therapists exchanged a look as they considered what subject they wanted to broach. It had only been a few days since their conversation that Heaven was possibly altering people's memories, but it weighed heavily on their minds. Things were still very much in the realm of suspicion as they did not want to risk the program shutting down just because they had some very subjective experiences…but the desire to try and get a real answer was strong. Ultimately, Sophia was leaving it up to Ren as to when and how they wanted to broach the topic as they were the one with regained memories. She gestured a hand at them and they gave a small shake of their head before setting down their notebook next to them. Not this week then.
"There is something Sophia and I have been considering and wanted to know if we could get some additional information on," Ren began, "Specifically if any of the staff could shed some light on what these 'soul contracts' or 'soul deals' are. If they are what they sound like, then I think it highly probable that anyone that is currently engaged in one will remain in Hell no matter how reformed of a person they become."
Charlie winced at the question, but it was Lucifer that spoke up. "Soul contacts are exactly what they sound like. They're a deal that's made between two souls that typically involve goods or services in exchange for servitude or favors of some kind." He frowned, "Though the length of these contracts is typically forever, they can be shorter. It's one of the ways demons of any kind amass power. The more souls under someone's control, the more it can amplify their own power. I'm not completely sure if it would prevent a soul from being redeemed, but I'm inclined to think it would."
"Ah, that explains why we were told to not make deals with anyone during our stay here," Sophia commented with a look of understanding, "It's not just a casual verbal agreement, but an actual contract bound by whatever laws or magic govern Hell. The old adage to not make deals with the devil has some strong truth to it then after all."
Lucifer grimaced but didn't deny it. "I don't make deals with Sinners that summon me any more. Stopped around when Charlie was born as I just couldn't bring myself to keep doing something I'd never want to see my daughter get caught up in." He turned his head to look at her and she gave him a loving smile as she reached over to squeeze his hand. He returned the gesture fondly before looking back at Sophia and Ren. "Just about any creature residing in Hell can make deals, but the stronger the soul is, the stronger the deal they can make." He sent a judging glance at Alastor, "It's how many Sinners become Overlords and control territory in the Pride Ring."
Sophia turned wide eyes to look over at Alastor at this reveal. The man looked as relaxed as ever in his chair and casually inspected his claws, "Well what did you expect was going to happen when you decided to give up on governing the masses yourself? A power vacuum such as that was always going to be filled." He turned lidded eyes and a sharp grin at Lucifer who frowned and looked away but didn't deny it. Alastor's eyes widened at the action before he turned to look towards Ren. "I am inclined to agree however that souls with existing contracts cannot be redeemed. While one can occasionally find loopholes to break or fulfill them, it is not an agreement easily torn asunder."
"Not even by the ruler of Hell?" Emily asked. She bit her lip and held her chin in consideration as she looked at Lucifer. "Surely as a former Angel and Hell's ruler you would have the power to cancel them out." Sophia watched as Lucifer startled at the suggestion before hunching his shoulders and tapping his fingers together in thought.
"I suppose it could be possible," he murmured, "I've never had anyone ask me but…" He trailed off before puffing himself up and grinning, "Yes! I bet I could void them!" His grin turned smug as he turned to look at Alastor again, "Got one you'd be willing to pony up out of the goodness of your heart for me to test?"
"No, I don't believe I do," Alastor replied dismissively, "I'll not risk who knows what happening just to appease your delusions. At least…not without some form of compensation of course. We wouldn't want those lovely charms I've been making our Heavenly Guests to lose their potency, now would we?"
Vaggie squinted suspiciously at him, "You said the blood used in making them sustains their power."
Alastor looked down at her with lidded eyes, "And they do, but their effectiveness is based on my own ability. If my power weakens, so does the strength of the charm. Tell me, would you expect a wooden spear to be as strong as your angelic one simply due to them both being spears?"
A flush covered Vaggie face as she crossed her arms and glared back at him, "Fine, you made your point."
"What about other contracts?" Ren suggested and Alastor turned to look at them. "Some of the patients have contracts with beings outside the hotel. Would you be willing to help us with those? See if they have loopholes to free them or some other way to break them?" They looked curiously between Lucifer and Alastor.
Lucifer smiled, "Absolutely! If anyone brings their contract in I'd be happy to try voiding it for them!" Charlie grinned and hugged him with a squeal of delight.
While she appreciated Lucifer's enthusiasm and confidence (especially given the state she had seen him in only a few days ago), Sophia had a feeling that his knowledge on this subject was not as thorough as someone like Alastor's. Being an active Overlord, he'd likely had the limits of his own deals tested much more recently than Lucifer had. Especially if Lucifer had never tried voiding a contract that wasn't of his own making in all the thousands of years he was accepting soul contracts. Not to mention she doubted anyone that was in a deal with the actual Devil would be able to simply overpower him to get out of it.
"Supposing they can summon them," Alastor stated as he turned a knowing gaze from Lucifer to Ren. "The majority of Overlords do not allow the other party to manifest their contracts into physical form for fear of loopholes being found to break the contracts after all." He spread his hands out in a placating gesture. "If one of our dear residents is able to summon theirs and present it…then I would certainly consider assisting them."
"Only consider?" Sophia asked, "Why is that? Is there a risk involved with helping break contracts?"
Alastor's gaze lit in delight, as if her question both surprised and impressed him, and he focused on her, "Why yes! Attempting to steal a soul right out from another is quite the tricky feat. You risk ensnaring yourself in the process as any good dealmaker will include a clause disallowing outside assistance."
Lucifer scoffed, "I bet you would know all about those clauses wouldn't you?"
"Oh come now," Alastor said as he rolled his eyes, "You make it sound as if I'm forcing people into something! Perhaps that is how others may operate, but they enter into my contracts of their own free will; which is why they are typically quite binding. Does dear Niftty seem at all upset by her deal with me?"
Sophia blinked in surprise at the revelation that the little lady's soul was owned by Alastor. Though given her interest in so-called 'bad boys', Sophia could see a scenario in which Niftty would want to be bound eternally to one such 'bad boy' that she admired.
"Maybe not," Vaggie admitted, "But I have a feeling Husk doesn't share in that sentiment."
Alastor smirked, "Ah yes, the old sour puss and his woes. Husker approached me, my dear. His buyer's remorse is no fault of mine." He chuckled and waved a dismissive hand before smiling at Sophia again. "So yes. I am willing to consider assisting if any soul can summon their contract and present it. Nothing more."
"Well they won't need you," Lucifer declared as he sat straight up in his seat, thumb pointing at his chest, "because I'm going to void them instead."
Alastor hummed dismissively and leaned his head on his right hand. "And if you cannot?"
"Then I'll help them get out of it," Lucifer stated. His head tossed back proud and confident, "I can intimidate or force the owner to set the soul free. We won't need your consideration at all."
Sophia was surprised that Alastor didn't rise to the implied insult and continued to look amused and unbothered by Lucifer's declaration. He seemed to enjoy being seen as more useful than the King of Hell if his actions when making the charms were anything to judge him by. So his nonchalant appearance here had her both surprised and curious. Normally the pair were constantly butting heads when their pride was on the line. Did he know more about these contracts than he was sharing, or was he simply taking the higher road for once?
"Well, I shall leave that decision to the soul in question," Alastor said, "But I do look forward to seeing your majesty govern his citizens for the first time since my own arrival. No doubt it will be quite the spectacle, and I do so enjoy live entertainment." He finished with a smug grin.
Ah, nevermind. There was the ego. Sophia heard Ren sigh next to her while she just shook her head. The more she learned about the man, the more she was shocked he had ever signed on to help with the hotel. It seemed completely at odds with his personality and goals.
"Thank you both for your assistance with this," Ren smiled at the two men, ending the topic as best as he could before the pair could goad each other on more. "We'll be sure to alert you should anyone be able to summon their contract."
Angel knocked back the last of his drink with a satisfying sigh. "Damn but if that don't just hit tha fuckin' spot. Pour me another would ya Husky?" With an eye roll and a smile, Husk swiped his dirty glass and started on his next cocktail. Angel admired his confident and nimble fingers while he worked and was about to make a flirtatious remark about his skilled hands when Ashes slid onto the stool next to him.
"Hey guys," she smiled.
"Hey ya self, toots."
Husk slid Angel his fresh drink and asked, "What's ya poison, kid?"
Ashes pondered the various bottles for a moment before requesting one of the nicer beers and Husk was quick to pop it open and send it her way. Angel took a sip of his own drink as he took in Ashes' appearance. The hotel was sittin' well with her. Kid had lost the dark circles under her eyes and had a much more confident air about her. Though that last part hadn't started until she'd gotten that fancy new binder of hers. He didn't think she had the kind of cash to afford something that swanky. He wasn't even sure where one could get something like that, but he supposed Charlie must've hooked the poor thing up.
"Been a good while since I last seen ya at the studio," Angel commented, "The Cats thing finish filming already?"
She leaned onto the bartop and flickered her eyes up at him quickly, "Oh uh, yeah. That wrapped a few weeks ago."
"Ya know, I thought I saw less hairballs about the studio," he grinned jokingly at her and she weakly returned a smile. "Yous get sent back to ya pimp then?" He knew how much she'd been looking forward to getting out from under Val's hold, and he couldn't blame her. Would that he could too. Angel had hoped to cheer her up by reminding her of her return to normalcy, but his comment had the opposite effect as she drew in more on herself and started picking at the label on the bottle.
"Uh yeah. I've…not gone back to Val in a few weeks," she muttered.
Angel set down his drink and exchanged looks with Husk. The bartender raised an eyebrow too cause yeah, that sounded really fucking suspicious. "Yous doin' alright Ashes?"
"Angel might not have seen you around," Husk said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the bar, "but I've seen you lurking about the hotel an awful lot lately. Are you hiding from something kid?"
Ashes swallowed and looked between Husk and Angel a few times before locking eyes with Angel. "I just- I didn't wanna seem like I didn't appreciate the," she gestured to her torso, "the thing you helped Charlie get me but I can't take it off. Nothing works! I've tried everything short of an Angelic blade and that's only because I don't have one!"
Her claws scratched the sides of her beer bottle as she stared at it. Words spilled out fast and loose as she continued. "And if I can't take it off then how am I supposed to return to work?! Ronnie would never allow me to perform with something like this on and-"
"Woah woah woah!" Angel interrupted her as he made a stop motion with his lower limbs, "First off, sorry but I didn't help Charlie get shit for ya toots. I only knew ya'd gotten a binder cause well, I got fuckin' eyes, yeah? She didn't come to me at all." Ashes' brow furrowed which meant more questions, but right now they had a much bigger problem. "And second, are yous telling me ya tryin' to dodge yer pimp? Ashes, babe, that is like…a massively terrible idea!"
Ashes' ducked her head and squeezed her eyes shut, "I know. I know! But what else am I supposed to do? Tell Charlie I love her gift but that it's going to ruin my life in a whole new way now?!"
"Better to break the princess' heart for a few minutes than to put yourself in breach of contract," Husk stated with a frown. "You're not just playing with fire but a whole goddamned blaze kid. I didn't think you were this stupid."
She turned desperate eyes up to Husk and Angel, "But my contract doesn't have set work hours. If I just stay here and don't work then I should be fine right? Angel skirts his deal by staying here when he's not in the studio."
Angel leaned forward and rested one of his upper hands on her shoulder, "You know it don't work like that, toots. Even I still gotta go into tha studio. You ain't been making 'em any money, and I know money is always in them sex worker deals. Never met one that wasn't."
Ashes swallowed on nothing again and turned scared eyes up at Angel, "Charlie has just been so wonderful to me and the idea of-"
A deep violet chain appeared suddenly around her neck and Ashes gasped as she tried to claw at it while it jerked her off the barstool.
"So this is where you thought you could hide from me, you little bitch."
Angel turned stiffly with wide frozen eyes to see a woman by the entrance. She had sharp hawk-like features with bird talons for hands and wore a green scale dress that shimmered in the light as she pulled on the chain that was slowly dragging Ashes ever closer to her feet. She was covered in very familiar looking cigarette burns and her back was dripping with blood. Angel had just enough thought to wonder if she had wings that had been ripped off before she placed one of her sharp clawed feet just below Ashes' throat. Pinning her to the floor.
"Ronnie! I'm sorry I wasn't-"
"You shut your fucking mouth," the woman, Ronnie, growled as she leaned her weight onto the leg pinning Ashes down, "I don't wanna hear another one of your whinny pathetic excuses. Do you know what Valentino did when you didn't show up to finish out my arrangement with him? DO YOU?!"
Ashes was pulling at the collar around her neck and simply shook her head rapidly back and forth. "He burned down my club and then took the rest of the payment out on me you bitch!" She snarled down at her. "You thought your time with Valentino was bad? Oh my little pussy cat…you're gonna regret ever being born by the time I'm done with you. Your stint in Valentino's studio will seem like a sweet dream. I've got all your favorite clients with your favorite kinks lined up for the next two years to pay me back what you owe! You'll be on your knees praying to me like I'm God almighty for forgiveness by the time I'm done having you run through. Fucking forget ever dancing again. You'll be living in the whore house like all the other deal breakers to work off your fucking debt!"
Ronnie smirked vindictively, delighting in the tears and fear stricken look on Ashes' face. She must've finally noticed the difference in Ashes' appearance as her look morphed into a snarl again, "And what the fuck happened to your tits!" She drew her leg down her chest and shredded Ashes' shirt down the front, leaving red marks on her skin and revealing the unmarked bodice under it. "The pedos might like you looking like a child, but the regulars sure as shit don't."
When Ashes didn't speak up and just laid there, silently crying, Ronnie growled and pulled on the chain. "Well bitch? What the fuck is this?!"
"A-a-a b-binder," Ashes tried to gasp out between sobs, "I-i c-can't-t ta-take it o-o-off."
Ronnie let out an ear splitting screech and swiped at Ashes' face with her talons. Angel finally snapped out of his frozen stupor as he covered his ears with his upper hands. He sent Husk a terrified look but the man was laser focused on the scene before him; ears pinned back to protect them from the sound. Angel had no idea what they could do, but his gut was rolling at the scene before him. He couldn't risk getting in the middle of contract business, but this wasn't right…he wanted to help but felt so useless.
A memory suddenly came to him from when they were rebuilding and he poked Husk with one of his lower limbs. Husk shot him a quick glance and muttered 'what' out of the side of his mouth. "Ain't ya got that call bu-" Angel whispered but Husk cut him off with a sharp nod before he could finish.
"Yeah, I hit it but it might take 'em a few minutes. I think Vaggie and Charlie are with the shrinks." Husk mumbled back. Angel nodded slightly and returned his gaze back to the scene before him. Hoping that Vaggie would make it out here before they had a murder scene to clean up. This is why you didn't try to out run your contracts. Ashes had been dead for over twenty years. She should've known better!
"Well now, what do we have here," Alastor's unmistakable voice spoke from the radio as he formed from shadow close to Ashes and her pimp. "Our first confrontation in the new building? Why I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever see their return!"
Ronnie scowled at Alastor before leveling a vicious smile at Ashes, "Oh I see. You thought if you hid here the washed up Radio Demon would protect you. How pathetic."
The sound of a record scratch reverberated through the room, and Angel felt his eyes widen in disbelief at the woman's gall before a gleeful smile spread over his face. Oh this was gonna be good.
"What did you say?" Alastor's voice and stance deceptively calm as his words, prickled with radio static, cut through the air. "I've killed lesser demons for daring to suggest such things."
Ronnie looked at him with smug lowered eyes, "Is your hearing going old man? We've all seen the videos. How you got your little bitch ass handed to you by that angel. Fucking pathetic excuse for an Overlord. Hiding out in the princess' hotel so she'll protect you from the real players out there."
Alastor's grip on his microphone tightened and Ronnie yanked on Ashes collar. "Don't even think about trying me. This waste of flesh is my personal property to do with as I please since she's in breach of contract. You know what getting in the middle of that means. Not to mention I'm one of Val's. So unless you want to try messing with me and have all of the Vees on your sad out of date ass so they can wreck your shit again, then I suggest you mind your own goddamned business and turn your fluffy little deer tail around like the coward you are."
Alastor chuckled darkly. The static heavy in his voice still. "Oh for one of such small stature to think they mean so much. It would be endearing if it wasn't so incredibly delusional." He twirled his microphone around before holding it behind his back and resting it against his left shoulder with a single tap. "This is your first and only warning. Take your business outside the hotel or I will be forced to defend it and escort you out myself."
"Please," Ronnie rolled her eyes and sneered, "You're just a washed up old timer trying to bank on his glory days with no real power. A pathetic has been like all the other losers in this lame ass hotel. I'm not scared of you or-"
The sound of something flying through the air rushed past Angel's ear, and he could barely make out a thin slip of whatever it was flying towards Alastor and Ronnie before she jerked to the side. She launched a fireball directly at the bar in response, and Angel swore before he ducked down and just missed it by the feel of the heat passing by him. Bottles fell over and crashed to the floor behind the bar and he could make out the muffled curses of Husk avoiding them and trying to put the fire out.
Vaggie finally came rushing into the room from the far hallway just as the fireball had hit, spear in hand and a scowl on her face. Charlie was hot on her heels with the new guys right behind her. She stopped when she was finally able to see what was happening and held her arms out to shoo the new guys back and hopefully out of sight of Ronnie, though that gear head guy seemed to be trying to push past her. Not a bad idea as Angel didn't trust this bitch not to lash out again either.
"Well now, I do believe that qualifies as damage to property I am currently pledged to protect and intent to harm my -what did you call them?" Alastor tilted his head and tapped a claw against his chin. "Ah, yes personal property with your unprovoked attack on dear Husker there." From his tone alone Angel had no doubt there was a shit eating grin on the man's face.
Ronnie growled at Alastor and pointed towards the bar, "You fucking blind ass liar! He attacked me first!"
Alastor shifted slightly in the direction of the bar, but remained facing Ronnie. "Oh, did he now? Is that what you all saw?"
Not one to miss a part in this entertainment, Angel pulled out a pair of sunglasses from his chest fluff and dramatically posed against the bar top with his head back and a hand on his forehead. "Oh no! I have suddenly gone blind! I didn't see a thing!"
He tilted his head forward and grinned over the top of his glasses with a sharp smile, "But I sure heard a bitch break something." Husk let out a suppressed laugh that Angel took particular glee in getting out of him.
Vaggie, now only a few feet away, glared at Ronnie with her spear pointed directly at her chest, "All I saw was your bitch ass trying to set fire to the hotel."
Ronnie snarled and pointed to her right, "Your fucking pet cat threw something at me, it's right-" She looked over to the left and there wasn't even the slightest trace of anything on the floor. Her eyes widened when she turned back to see Alastor's antlers had begun to grow as the room dimmed. "No! This is my right! You're all fucking liars! I know what I saw! This is bullshit! You can't do this!" She shouted as she dropped Ashes' chain and started slowly walking backwards towards the front doors.
"Apologies Charlie! It appears there's a bit of trash in the lobby I need to dispose of," Alastor declared. His shadow tentacles spawned from the floor behind Ronnie before they swiftly wrapped around her.
"No! You can't do-" She looked at the all with wide frightened eyes as one wrapped around her mouth. All of them coiled tightly to keep her from moving no matter how much she struggled.
Alastor broadcasted a jaunty little ragtime tune as he twirled his microphone around and walked over to Ronnie. His form hadn't grown enormously like it had been with the loan sharks that one time, but he still towered over the woman with his antlers expanding out. "Oh, this will be such fun. Do try to save your very best screams for me, my dear! We can't have my adoring audience think I'm losing my touch, now can we?" His voice cackled with malicious delight as he pulled them both into shadow.
The lighting returned to normal with Alastor's freaky power gone, and Angel rushed over to Ashes side to check on her. Nearly colliding with Charlie in the process. "Fucking Hell Ashes, ya really fucking lucky that didn' go worse."
"Angel!" Charlie scolded as she tried to lift the shaking cat woman up to get a better look at her.
"What!" Angel exclaimed, "She just admitted she's been skirting her pimp for weeks cause of tha binder ya got her that won't come off! That kind of shit has consequences! I was expecting we'd hav ta clean her off the floor here in a few minutes!"
Ashes was curled into the fetal position and Charlie had settled for rubbing her back soothingly, but she paused to look up at Angel in confusion. "What binder? We talked about trying to find her one, but I didn't get anything. I thought she'd spoken to you when I saw her wearing one."
Angel froze. Charlie wasn't one for lying, but if she didn't get it… He looked down at Ashes and her eyes had gone wide and fearful. "Ashes…ya said the binder was from Charlie. If she didn't give it to ya…then wha' made ya think it was from her?"
She tried to take some deep breaths but they came out as little more than stilted gasps as she tried to reply. "N-not…talk…anyone…else. Had…to be…Charlie. Was…with...my orders."
Charlie bit her lip and she thought and continued to run smoothing circles on Ashes' back. "I had Niffty bring the pile to your room to keep them safe while you were at work, but I swear I didn't buy one for you. I had planned to but even I can't shop that fast."
Husk swore and called for Niffty. Apparently the little gal hadn't been far as she zoomed into the room with a mop in hand. She frowned and stomped her foot when she saw the lack of mess. "Awww. I was hoping the bad girl would make a big mess of the crybaby for me to clean up."
"Niff," Husk said. "Did anyone give you an extra package to deliver to Ashes' room a few weeks back? Maybe something that didn't look like a normal mail package?"
Niftty tapped her chin in thought, "Nope. Alastor helped me pick them up when I ran too fast and dropped them, but no one gave me anything extra."
Husk groaned and trailed a hand down his face, "Of fucking course he did." He walked over to Ashes and nudged her knees with his foot. "Look, I know you're having a bad one kid, but roll over for me real quick." Ashes did as he asked and Husk pulled one of his fighting cards out as he knelt down at her back. He made a quick swipe at her shredded shirt to get it out of the way before he ran one of the card edges about where the lacings should be on a normal binder.
Green sparks flared to life briefly where the two items met and the laces appeared for a moment before being covered by fabric again. "Fucking knew it," Husk mumbled and put his cards away as he stood back up. "I don't know how he knew you wanted one of them things, but Alastor made that. Or at least enchanted it to seal up. Probably thought it'd be a laugh to give you what you wanted while having it fuck up your job. Bet he thought he was even being kind by not asking for anything in return."
Ashes rocked pitifully on the ground and Charlie reached down to soothe her. Angel was stunned and looked between Ashes and Husk. "Wait, if he did that just ta cause her problems, then why would he help her? That don't make no fuckin' sense."
"Entertainment," Vaggie scowled at the door, "He said as much when he first joined the hotel, remember? That he wanted to see souls struggle for redemption that he didn't believe in." She pinched her brows and growled, "I bet the asshole is testing people to see if they're worthy of redemption now that we know it's possible. Maldito hijo de puta." Husk nodded and hummed in agreement.
"Yeah well he can fuckin' miss me with that shit," Angle delcared, "I ain't gotta prove nothin' to him!"
Charlie sighed as she leaned back from Ashes to sit up straight. "Maybe he meant well but just didn't know a better way to help with the new program? He did give her something with no deal attached and he came to her aid." She looked up at everyone with a strained smile. Angel felt confident he wasn't the only one giving her a look of utter disbelief in return. "I know, I know, it sounds crazy but he's been on such good behavior since the battle!" she insisted. "Maybe if I have the therapists give him some better suggestions…"
Husk scoffed, "I don't know what change you think you're seeing, princess, but Alastor doesn't do 'nice' or 'good' without a reason. Sounds to me like he was looking for some fun and the kid just got caught in his messed up game."
Lucifer drew little designs in the grime on the embassy steps as he passed the time till Sera arrived. It was a few hours after the hotel meeting and the equivalent of early evening in Hell. The hope was that they would avoid most of the populace and go unnoticed this time of day as they planned to take a walk around the base to discuss design and size requirements more. He'd promised to make a little charm for her to wear and blend in after Emily had gushed to Sera about the ones Alastor had made. Lucifer gleefully drew a beheaded Alastor that he stabbed with the end of his cane. He could do anything the sad little Sinner could do and more. Just wait until he showed him when he destroyed someone's contract one day. Charlie would finally give the leech the boot and he'd stop having to play nice with the tacky daughter stealing bellhop.
Sophia's words from the other night came back to him then and he smudged out his little drawing with his foot and frowned. She said Alastor was just acting how he did to rile him up and that by letting it get to him, he was giving Alastor power over him. Lucifer knew she was right and he knew that's what Alastor was doing…but still somehow the man just knew how to get under his skin every time!
He let out a sigh and walked over to lean on the doors. These things were a process, he told himself, and it was okay that he was working on it. He wanted to help Charlie and this miracle of cooperation between Heaven and Hell she'd manifested, and that meant getting himself to a better head space…or so Sophia claimed. Lucifer still wasn't sure telling himself that would actually help. To say they had very different outlooks on how life worked would be putting it quite mildly. All he knew was he couldn't keep going on as he had been for the past few…decades? Centuries? He couldn't really say when it started, just that it had been so long that he felt like it was normal.
The sound of footsteps approaching drew him out of his self reflection, and Lucifer looked up to see one of the very few Overlords he did know approaching. "Zestial," he tilted his head and cast a glance at the tall white haired Sinner next to him, "Nice to see you're still kicking around. Who's your friend?"
"Indeed, your majesty," Zestial bowed and Lucifer adopted an unimpressed look. He really wasn't in the mood for all the formality tonight. "May I present to thee mine good friend, Madam Carmilla Carmine. Twas her who supplied thine daughter with armaments for the battle nought but two months hence."
"Uh huh," Lucifer replied as he eyed her wearily. So this was the Overlord that had discovered how to harm angels. Not to mention that she scavenged the discarded weapons they left behind to- ah. There it was. The greedy money hungry Sinners wanted to know when they'd be able to resume business and came to ask him. "Look, I'm afraid I don't have time for a social call tonight so whatever this is," he gestured to the pair of them with his cane, "it'll have to wait till some other day."
Carmilla frowned at him, her voice was deep and judging when she spoke. "And how is someone supposed to arrange a meeting? You don't exactly have a secretary I can contact."
Lucifer squinted at her in suspicion. The woman knew where his daughter lived and worked. Either she was purposefully not reaching out to Charlie to try and get on his good side, or she didn't feel like she had enough leverage to call in such a favor. Knowing Overlords as he did…it was probably both. This is why he didn't interact with Overlords anymore. All this grandstanding political nonsense. He got enough of that from the Goetias for ten lifetimes.
"You look like a smart woman. I'm sure you'll figure it out," Lucifer smirked. He dusted imaginary dirt off his jacket with a put upon air, "Now I have a very important meeting in five minutes-"
"With the angel again?" Carmila interrupted and Lucifer paused to level a glare at her. Her eyebrow raised and a smug look grew on her face. "You've not been very discrete in your sudden interest in the embassy, and we have a very invested interest in the area as you may know."
Lucifer sighed and set his cane in front of him. "Fine. You have 3 minutes. What do you want?"
Carmilla frowned but didn't object to the shortened time and got straight to the point. "The countdown clock has not resumed since the battle at the hotel. Is the deal broken? Are the exterminations over?"
He wondered for a moment if she was actually concerned about the yearly risk to her life or if this was just about her business possibly drying up, but then this was an Overlord. The intent was certainly all about money and power. "Yes to the first, and on pause is the more accurate description."
"So you are in renegotiations then," Carmila stated.
Lucifer shrugged, "Something like that." He really didn't care what she thought about his reply, but it was close enough to the truth. Certainly all he was willing to share.
Her fists clenched at her side, no doubt frustrated at his short answers, but a touch from Zestial had her releasing them. "Will there be any announcement if they are resumed? Or are we to now live our lives as Schrodinger's cat?"
"Who's what now?" Lucifer asked with a furrowed brow. Was that someone in Hell? Should he…know them? And what did their pet have to do with anything? Didn't matter. He felt that he understood what she was getting at.
"Look, I don't know if you want them to stop or continue, but that's the best I've got for you. If things unpause you won't need a written note from me to know that Heaven will be returning to their reign of divine justice again." The bitterness in his voice was clear as to his thoughts on the matter, but then his disdain for Heaven was no secret.
Carmilla scowled as she went to speak, but several light knocks sounded on the door behind him before she could.
"Well, it looks like time's up a little early," Lucifer grinned. "Have a nice night!" He turned to open the door and leave when Alastor's remark about his lack of leadership presence from the meeting came back to him. His fist clenched and he gritted his teeth. If Charlie could help reform Sinners, then maybe he needed to try and not assume the worst about them any more.
Lucifer swiveled back around and summoned his phone. Carmilla took a second to school her shocked expression to something more thoughtful as he did so. "I can't promise which way this is all going to hash out," Lucifer stated as he gestured his phone at her, "But if you want to give me your number then I can contact you when I know the final verdict."
Carmilla was clearly surprised by the gesture based on the look she exchanged with Zestial, but pulled out her phone to rattle off not just her number but several other points of contact information. Lucifer diligently typed it all in before waving his phone away again.
"And your number…your highness?" Carmill asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh good golly, no," Lucifer laughed. "No, no. I don't give out my number. That is a need to know type of thing, and right now neither of you need to know it."
She frowned but nodded her acceptance as she put her phone away, "Very well." Knocks sounded behind him and Lucifer sighed before giving a knock back to hopefully communicate to Sera that he was coming.
"I really do have to go now, so I bid you both adieu," Lucifer tipped his hat at them, "Carmilla. Zestial." The old Overlord returned his gesture with one of his own.
Before he could turn around and open the door, Carmilla spoke up, "I do not know what you are attempting with Heaven." She paused and looked around them at the empty street, "but for my daughters' sake…I hope it all works out for the better this time."
Lucifer blinked in surprise. That…was not what he'd been expecting. Huh. He nodded at her in acknowledgement before turning to finally head inside. He pushed the right side of the doors open and slipped through them, nearly bumping into Sera as he did. It thudded closed and he leaned against it with a thoughtful hum. Perhaps Charlie had a point about all Sinners being redeemable after all.
"Has there been a change of plans?" Sera asked. Her haughty eyebrows raised high in judgment.
Lucifer waved a dismissive hand at the door behind him, "No, no. Just some Sinners milling about bothering me. Plus I thought you should put your disguise on in here and then we'll portal out around the corner to avoid them and get started." He pulled a simple silver bracelet out of the ether and it glowed gold for a second before he held it out to her.
Sera accepted it with a nod and began to inspect it. Running it between her thumb and fingers as she likely got a feel for the magic in it. It clearly passed her inspection as she slipped it on soon after, her form shifting subtly to something more fitting for Hell. Her halo vanished along with her aura, while her hair darkened to a medium gray, and her eyes shifted to a red hue. The elaborate dress became a suit like his dear daughter's but black instead of red.
"Interesting selection," she commented as she took in her new attire.
Lucifer shrugged, "Well, it was either this or have you look like Lilllith." He frowned at his mixed feelings at that idea still, and saw Sera's eyes widen. "But the point is to blend in, and the Sinners adore her so that would cause the exact thing we're trying to avoid."
Sera raised her judgmental eyebrow at him, "Will you be similarly swapping your own look then?"
"Oh they know better than to bother me," Lucifer smirked as he snapped a portal into existence.
"What about the ones bothering you earlier?"
He rolled his eyes and stepped through the portal, "Handled. The only uppity Sinner I'm worried about is back at the hotel under Charlie's watchful eye and even that is just because he's annoying. So let's get this over with and get you back to your paradise."
Sera frowned but followed after him and stepped through the portal. Just like last time they'd ventured outside in Hell proper, her nose immediately curled up in disgust at the smell. She covered the bottom half of her face with a hand to help with it. Lucifer dismissed the portal with a wave and turned to look up at the building.
"Alright, now that we're on the ground I think you can better see why the height is excessive," he commented casually. Sera looked up and around at the building and the city. Her eyes widening at something going on in the distance, but when he gave it a quick glance it was just some Sinner on Sinner violence. Hardly worthy of note.
She took a deep breath before removing her hand from her face to reply. "I suppose the height should be adjusted after all." Bursts of gunfire rang out from some place behind Sera and the angel jerked to look behind her in shock and concern. "Perhaps a different location would also suit our needs better."
Lucifer smirked, "I thought you didn't want to knock the place down and start over."
"There is a slight chance that I was not as informed about the current location as I had been led to believe," Sera stated with a side glance to him. "Perhaps a placement that isn't as…"
"Violent?" Lucifer prompted her with a smug smile.
Sera pursed her lips, "I was going to say active, but yes one not as violent would also be preferred."
Lucifer hummed, amused to see her looking so ruffled for once. "Well you all had insisted upon something in 'the heart of the pentagram' originally but if you're sure-"
"I am."
"Then we can fly around town next time to scout out a new location," he shrugged casually, "until then let's take a walk around the base and talk about building design. I heard about this style called 'baroque' recently, and I think it could be something we can both agree on."
"Dammit," Vince swore to himself before putting his singed finger in his mouth.
He was apparently very out of practice with soldering guns after just two years in Heaven. Not that he'd been great with one before, he was more of a programming and components dev than a hardware building one, but he knew enough about circuitry to get himself in trouble. Though maybe next time he'd go back to Heaven with Emily to get the parts he wanted rather than pass off his list to Charlie. She meant well but it was pretty clear something had been lost in the game of telephone that was him passing off the list, Charlie writing to Emily, and then Emily requesting said items.
What he was currently working on however was more of a fun project. He'd finally finished canvasing the hotel with Charlie yesterday and had his list for the networking supplies he would need to get things up and running. Along with a request to talk with her Dad about setting up a provider connection. Being the ruler of Hell surely let the man get high speed data rates for cheap or free, but what they really needed from him was a tier one connection they could trust. Now it was just a matter of waiting for Emily to be free so he could hitch a ride back, or risk passing off his list again. Given how the supply chain test went…he was leaning towards the former.
So Vince had chosen to work on a boredom project in his room during his free time until then. He'd said a little mental sorry to Alastor before opening the radio he'd been gifted so he could see if there was any hard evidence of this 'magic radio power' inside it. While most of it was standard, the antenna and battery had off the charts readings and he was currently experimenting to see if he could duplicate their levels with some good old fashioned jerry rigging and custom coding. The hope was to mimic the output and make some of those defensive EMPs he'd tried to tempt Alastor with.
He supposed he should've known better than to try and tempt a demon at their own game, but it had been worth a shot. Not like he was afraid of dying again. He hadn't expected there to be an afterlife and some days he still resented that there even was one.
Vince plugged the new board into his laptop and ran a diagnostic while he took a sip of his very room temperature coffee with a grimace. Any coffee was welcome, but maybe he should ask Charlie for his own coffee pot or french press so he didn't have to keep bothering the little creepy cute bug lady for more. The laptop beeped to signal it had finished and he glared at the screen before turning his disappointment at his latest failure. "Your mother was a toaster and your father reeked of dead ram."
"So, is this how you treat all items gifted to you?"
"Fucking- where the hell did you come from from?!" Vince startled as Alastor's radio filter voice spoke suddenly from over his shoulder, and he just barely kept from sloshing his coffee everywhere.
He turned to look behind him only to barely catch a quick glimpse of a black shadow dissolving into the floor. So the guy could shadow travel and he had given him access to his room… Probably not the best idea to keep that going, and he made a mental note to ask Lucifer if he could reset his wards or whatever the equivalent of getting a new room key was when he heard Alastor speak again, but this time in front of him.
"Where in Hell would be more accurate, my good fellow," Alastor grinned at him with lidded eyes, "And I came from my radio tower! I had thought to see if you had tuned into my broadcast while also delivering dear Charlie's message, but instead found you've gutted the poor thing." The grin became a bit more sinister and Vince winced at the accusation as he could see how this looked to someone that wasn't tech literate.
He set down his coffee mug and waved his hand appeasingly. "It's not what it looks like, I swear. Most of this is parts I asked for. I just took the housing off your radio to get a look at the inside. I've never seen one in this style before and I was curious. It still works fine, I promise!" Vince grabbed a set of pliers to turn the post for the power/volume knob on, and music softly poured out of the uncovered speakers. Alastor tilted his head and looked between the exposed radio and Vince, which was enough time for Vince to recognize the song playing.
He hummed approvingly, "Gershwin. Nice. You know, I've actually caught most of your midday broadcasts. I can see why you're popular down here. The gossip has been hilarious even if I don't know, like, anyone you're talking about. You're a great radio personality."
Alastor hummed in acknowledgement but didn't take the topic bait. His gaze flickered over to Vince and stayed there, "I'm surprised you've heard of Gershwin. Most of you young folk have no appreciation for good music."
"The man is one of the most celebrated American composers ever," Vince replied with a raised eyebrow, "and music, much like all art, is subjective, thank you very much. If my sister was here you'd be in trouble as she'd likely talk your ear off on the subject." He felt a pang of homesickness thinking of his very much living family and rubbed the phantom pain in his chest, "But as a former band kid I do have a bit of a bias, so you're not wrong to assume most uh…'newly arrived' people wouldn't know of him."
Alastor gave him a considering look, but Vince had no idea what he was thinking about and wasn't going to tempt the guy with magical powers by asking him. He grabbed his mug for another sip of coffee and pulled a face while taking it. "So what's the message?" He asked. "I'm guessing Charlie has a time for when her dad might be here?"
"Yes, sometime tomorrow," Alastor confirmed almost as an aside as his gaze swept over the various components on the table. "I have been considering your proposal from the other day and have come to a decision."
"Oh?" Vince asked with no small amount of surprise. He'd honestly thought Alastor had already made up his mind given how dismissive he'd been that day. The idea that he might've actually tempted him made Vince's lips twitch to a smirk of pride, but he grew it into something more casual and open.
Alastor looked back at Vince, "Indeed. Are you familiar with the phrase 'Quid pro quo?'" Vince nodded and Alastor continued, "Excellent. I have concluded that adding additional abilities to my skill set is appealing after all, but I have stipulations."
"Well Charlie explained the whole 'deals being magically binding' thing," Vince countered, "So I'm not shaking on anything, but I'm not gonna go tell anyone about what I learn if that's what you're worried about." He raised an eyebrow and gestured to the ceiling, "I mean, what good is knowing how some guy in Hell can use his magic to manipulate radio frequencies gonna do me?"
Alastor's eyes lowered and he tilted his head to the side, "There is truly nothing you seek to gain from this exchange?"
"I mean…I think it's gonna be a fun challenge?" Vince replied, "That's good enough for me. Heaven is…" He struggled to find a word to describe how boring he found eternal paradise to be, and Alastor clearly picked up on it as his smile grew sharp and smug.
"Oh dear. Is the blessed realm not all that sweet Charlie claims it to be?"
"Might just be a me problem," Vince scoffed, "I don't like wasting my brain away and there's not much I can contribute to up there. It's why I jumped on to help with this. I get a fun challenge for a few weeks before I'm back to all of that."
Alastor chuckled, "Ah now that is a motivation I can understand! The need for entertainment with the doldrums of eternity laying before you! Now then, on to the terms." He twirled his microphone out of existence and summoned a wingback chair to sit upon all in one graceful gesture. "Our discussions and workings in this manner are to remain private. A…gentleman's agreement in lieu of a deal, if you will. Anything I assist you with in creation for this hotel must also be returned in the form of a new skill for my own personal use."
Vince shrugged, "You'll know how much you can do more than I will. My best theory is this might be like stretching new muscles for you? I really have no idea how afterlife magic works, and like I said, I'm not gonna tell anyone anything. Pretty sure no one would even understand if I did. Much less be able to do anything with it as tech literacy seems to be at an all time low down here. No offense." He waved his hand in an appeasing motion and Alastor waved his concern off.
"An astute observation, and in relation to the other stipulation I have for this…agreement," he commented. "While I have no desire to use any of these modern devices, I require that they be explained to my satisfaction when in use."
"Really?" Vince asked with a bit of surprise, "You've made your dislike for modern tech pretty clear in just the little bit we've interacted."
Alastor picked flecks of something off of one of his claws as he leaned back in his chair, "A preference is not the same as willful ignorance and my time shall never be monopolized by some pocket picture box thinking machine. It is far too valuable." His gaze lifted to meet Vince's, "Your knowledge on this subject however provides a unique opportunity as the other avenues of information are…unreliable at best."
Vince whistled and raised an eyebrow, "That Vox guy has that much of a monopoly on modern tech down here?"
"Quite."
The idea of helping to take down an oppressive evil tech company, or at the very least cock block them, gave Vince a rush that he hadn't felt since he was living. A purpose that his afterlife had been missing and he felt a genuine smile creep across his face at the idea of a challenge. Not that he'd be storming the castle or whatever, but helping radio fight off TV felt like the kind of iconic battle any media or tech fan wanted to be a part of.
"Alright," Vince grinned as he rolled his neck and shoulders, "Sounds like a plan, so let's get cooking. Where do you wanna start?"
Notes:
Maldito hijo de puta = 'Damn son of a bitch' in Spanish
Quid pro Puo = Latin for 'something for something'. Often used to imply an exchange of benefits or favors.
It seemed fairly clear to me in the show that Alastor trys to stay knowledgeable on modern technology, even if he doesn't like it based on some of the words he uses like 'podcast', and him creating film equipment like a 90s/2000s handheld camcorder and 40s/50s hollywood set/tech in episode one. So hopefully it doesn't come across as a stretch that he would want to expand his power base and learn about these things from a trustworthy source. Vince's band kid past comes directly from the only tech guy I know being a total band geek and I just thought it would be a fun little nod to that. I pictured that the song playing would be 'Rhapsody in Blue'.
On a personal/serious note, my cat has kidney failure and I may have to put him to sleep tomorrow. It's also why I'm posting early as I am exhausted from crying so much. I have been very distraught the last 2 days as he's declined and I haven't written as a result. Between my trip, catching a cold, and this, I am now out of my backlog of chapters. I am almost done with chapter 9 so I will still try to get it done before next week, but honestly even if I do I will likely need to take a break to mourn of my old man baby. I'll update the summary next week if I will have to take 2-3 weeks to do so and try to build my backlog back up. Guess life said I was not allowed to have an update schedule for this in the end. 😢
