As the days rolled by, when they weren't helping Charlie with the hotel, Elida and Alastor had fallen into a routine of nice dinners, dance lessons, and long conversations. Having her on the air almost doubled his ratings every single time; Everyone waited with bated breath to hear news from Heaven's Ambassador. The Radio Demon was more than happy to give the people what they wanted, and Elida had plenty of fascinating things she wanted to say.

Every time he brought her into his radio station, she peeked at the polaroid photo he'd taken on her first day. It was sitting on the back corner of his desk. Her blood-splattered smile was smug and mischievous in the picture, but clearly he hadn't looked at it even once. She fought the urge to smirk each time he walked past it. She wanted so badly to see his reaction when he noticed.

He seemed to be under the impression that she wore her heart on her sleeve and was somehow incapable of tricking him. He was cocky like that. That suited her fine. It made it easier to get him to do what she wanted. She just needed to bat her eyes a little. It had gotten her onto his radio show, after all.

Her phone buzzed, a text message from an unknown number popping up. That was odd, as she was still on Heaven's network. The only people who should be able to contact her were the ones she had personally given her number to. Knitting her eyebrows together in curiosity, she opened the message.

"Ambassador Elida McCarthy,

"I would like to thank you on behalf of the Vees for your willingness to assist in tempering the tension between Hell and Heaven. Your explanation of the situation at the overlord meeting, along with your regular appearances over the radio, have shown us all that you are a wise and articulate politician. We here at Voxtek would like to offer you a spot on one of our most popular talk shows, where you can freely discuss whatever topics you wish. I can ensure you reach a far wider audience than you ever could over a medium as outdated as the radio.

"I understand that you are busy with Princess Morningstar's hotel, your potion shop, and your important position as Heaven's sole ambassador. Your time is valuable, so to make sure you don't become overwhelmed with the workload, you will have a fully equipped film crew at your disposal. We would also be happy to negotiate any other assistance or compensation you might require. You can trust us.

"Please accept my sincerest apologies for my colleague's behavior earlier. Mr. Valentino has been dealt with, and I can promise that you will have no further interaction with him should you agree to grace Voxtek with your presence on our show. As the head of the organization, I have provided my direct contact to you. Please reach out at any time to discuss this further.

"Sincere Regards,

"Vox

"(666) 886-9835"

It had taken quite a bit of detective work for Vox to find the ambassador's number. Every demon in Hell was using his tech, which gave him free access to all the data he could ever want, but that clever witch hadn't purchased anything from him. She hadn't even connected to any wifi networks, meaning he couldn't hack her phone or laptop. He suspected she was using a signal from Heaven. He'd had to do a deep-dive analysis on all the messages coming in and out of the devices of known Hazbin Hotel patrons, checking off every phone number from his database one by one until he finally found the one that he had no record of.

Area code 777, and only the witches, the hotel residents, and a few overlords known to associate with that old-timey prick Alastor, had that number in their phones. Once he'd found it, he checked the text messages being sent to it to be sure it was the right person. A few people called her by name. There were even some selfies. He had her.

Vox hoped that Valentino's coked up rampage hadn't fucked up their entire plan. It was a good thing he was pretty, because that overreactive piece of shit was a huge pain in the ass. No porn star was worth the PR nightmare he was now dealing with, not even one as lucrative as Angel Dust.

Alastor had made a point to tell everyone that would listen to his stupid broadcast all about how he'd carved up and gifted Val's corpse to the overlord of Cannibaltown. And for some reason the ambassador had just let him: No argument, no trying to stop him, just accepting it and letting him do what he wanted. Maybe it was because Val had attacked her, or maybe Alastor already had her on a leash. Neither option bode well.

The Radio Demon had had a heyday making fun of the Vees, calling them unstable and weak. Vox wanted to chain that smiling asshole to the wall, beat him to death with his own microphone, and then fuck his rotting corpse.

It took a few days, but eventually Vox received a text response from Ambassador McCarthy. She was willing to talk on the condition that she be allowed to take a chaperone of her own choice along for protection. Vox fumed. The likelihood that her chaperone was anyone other than Alastor was slim. He'd been openly wining and dining her for weeks; She hadn't been spotted anywhere outside the hotel without him close by. That was going to be a problem. But luckily, there was a solution. Alastor hated modern technology. So, Vox sent another message;

"Madame Ambassador,

"I recognize the great personal risk you've taken in moving to Hell to perform your work, and I understand that my colleague's previous behavior may have left you concerned for your safety. If you'd prefer, I'd be happy to meet with you remotely to discuss this. Are you available next week on Saturday for a video call?

"Looking Forward to Meeting You,

"Vox"

She responded right away;

"Mr. Vox,

"Unfortunately, I'm not available on Saturday. I will be attending an event in Cannibaltown that is paramount to my role as Heaven's peacemaker. I am open on the following Monday any time before 5pm if that works for your schedule.

"Regards,

"Elida McCarthy"

Now that was information he could use. Vox had been to enough networking events to know how formal parties worked, and he was sure to be allowed into Rosie's ball if he showed up. It was bad form to turn someone important away, even if they weren't invited.

Rosie was not to be trifled with, so her events were civil. Anyone causing trouble on her turf was snuffed out quickly and without mercy. Alastor was close with the cannibal overlord, but he'd still have to adhere to the rules of polite society, even if Vox was there. The hardest part would be trying not to get too pissed off at the Radio Demon's inevitable backhanded jabs.

If he could get a dance or two with the ambassador, he could have a more personal conversation with her and start to lay on the charm. She'd be forced to look into his eyes, which would allow him to use his hypnotic influence to get her to like him. It would take time and effort to earn her trust, but just like any dance, he'd take it one step at a time. She'd be his eventually.

While Vox plotted in his tower, Elida played monopoly. Lucifer, Charlie, Vaggie, and their new angelic guest all sat at a snack-laden table, munching on chips and trying not to fall over laughing at all the stupid jokes they kept making. Vaggie got caught off guard by a pun Elida had made and snorted soda out her nose. Tears of pain welled in her eyes as everyone else tried their best not to endure the same fate.

"Aaahhhh, nooo!" Vaggie resisted the urge to throw the gameboard across the room. She was losing hard, and it was confusing being so grumpy about it while simultaneously unable to stop laughing.

"Oh babe, let me help!" Charlie ran to grab a box of tissues and helped her partner get cleaned up.

Elida had buried her face in Lucifer's shoulder, wings shaking with uncontrollable giggles. Lucifer was having too much fun to stop her, even if she was from Heaven. She was kind of alright. He laughed with them, truly enjoying himself for the first time in years.

Elida's laughter was genuine, but her movements were deliberate. By initiating casual physical contact with Lucifer, she could establish a more familiar relationship with the King of Hell; An essential goal as an ambassador. Having read Charlie's storybook and done some independent research in her off time with the resources available from both realms, Elida had found that much of what she'd heard about Lucifer was more than likely just millennia of rumor and bullying. She'd need to spend more time with him to make a fully informed decision on his character, but something told her he wasn't as awful as everyone made him out to be. After all, he'd made Charlie, and that girl was a total cinnamon roll.

"You know," She stated to the king, "I think I like you. I'm still going to crush you though. I've finally got Boardwalk!" She stuck her tongue out playfully at him.

"Not so fast," he countered, "You're broke. One bad roll and you're out." He rolled for his turn, moving the tiny duck figurine forward 6 spaces. Taxes Due. Ugh.

"That's okay, I'll pass 'Go' and finally be ready to take over the city."

All was right with the world; or at least it felt like it in that moment. Lucifer had nearly forgotten what it was like to be around people who weren't openly cruel and malicious. How his precious daughter had managed to remain so positive and loving despite growing up in the worst possible realm, he could only admire. She was his greatest treasure, and he was ecstatic that he'd gotten a chance to reconnect with her. Watching her grow and accomplish such unprecedented miracles made him glow with pride.

In the end, Lucifer won the game. It was neck and neck for a while, but the ambassador's luck ran out, and the devil won. She took it well, congratulating him on a game well played. She wished she could play the next round with them, but it was nearing 7pm, and Alastor would be waiting in his radio tower for her. She didn't want to stand him up.

She offered Lucifer a handshake, but he misread the gesture and went in for a hug instead. She let him, giving him a warm embrace and a friendly kiss on the cheek, "Thanks for letting me join you guys, I had so much fun. I'd love the chance to take you on again. I fully intend to beat you next time."

"I think I'd like that." And he meant it. She didn't act frightened or ashamed of him. She wasn't rude, or passive aggressive, or holier-than-thou like so many other angels he'd met were. She had an honest kindness about her, and it made him feel safe enough to be himself. That was rare, especially in Hell.

Elida made her exit, making her way to the kitchen to sneak a snack from behind the crochety chef's back to share with her smiling friend before heading up to his radio tower. She thought about the suspicious message from Vox. If Valentino was any indication, the Vees were a dangerous and powerful group. He'd resisted her calming spell and put up a strong fight against Alastor. Vox sounded more careful and controlled, which made him a far worse threat. She wanted to know how he'd found her number.

After the nightly radio show ended, she asked Alastor about it. She didn't need his permission to talk to Vox, but she wanted his perspective. His eyes grew dark and angry when she told him about the invitation.

"You don't need a talk show, you're on my station. And they'll more than likely look for a way to trap you into some indentured servitude. Whatever you do, don' t sign a contract with them."

"I won't be signing contracts with anyone," She offered him a reassuring smile, "And even if I decide that their show is worth my time, I won't be leaving your station unless you ask me to. I enjoy our conversations too much. What do you know about the Vees?"

Alastor knew a great many things, not all of which would be wise to share with her. He and Vox had been friends once, until Vox told him all about his plan to pipeline living children into selling their souls early on using their combined media power. Children's shows with subliminal messaging, advertisements that sounded innocent but were for things that would lead to demonic activity, music with adolescent melodies but dark lyrics, hypnosis, that sort of thing.

Most of the trafficked kids would be sold into sex slavery with Valentino after their deaths, while some of the less comely would become servants, or forced to wander the Earth for eternity as ghosts so that they could recruit other innocents. Alastor was an unrepentantly evil man, but he would not abide those who hurt children.

Alastor never told Vox why he'd ended their friendship, instead waiting until Vox had offered Alastor his full trust, and then starting a fight that left both of them beaten, scarred, and bloodied. Stabbing Vox in the back both literally and figuratively should have worked, but Vox somehow managed to survive. Alastor's whole thing was taking out other overlords, so it was a testament to Vox's strength that he still wasn't erased from existence. The only good that came of it was destroying the artifact Vox had wanted to use to send his shows to Earth. Until he found another way to reach his influence outside of Hell on the scale he'd been planning, he would have to stick to dead souls and contracts through intentional summonings, just like everyone else.

If it weren't for Lilith restricting him, Alastor would be so much closer to killing the Vees, and every other overlord of Hell that wanted to harm those of fairer means. He wanted power, and he wanted his enemies to suffer. The Queen was no longer of any use to him, only a thorn in his side.

Elida couldn't be permitted to know any of these things, so Alastor only told her what was publicly available, and offered another warning not to trust or associate with Vox. He didn't want to share the power and status that came with being at the ambassador's right hand, and his ratings could suffer if she made an appearance on any other platform. She was intelligent, but too trusting. Vox would eat her alive.

If anyone would get Elida's soul, it would be Alastor. No one else would be permitted to touch her. She was too valuable.

Elida listened to Alastor's warning. She knew he likely had a whole slew of reasons to be unhappy at the idea of her associating with other powerful people in Hell, but she still had to do her job, and that included getting to know the human souls' controlling powers. Sera would probably hate her doing this, but Elida wouldn't be controlled. She would succeed in her goal to permanently stop the exterminations, no matter what needed to happen to get there. She needed power, and she wanted her new friends to survive.

The gentle witch blinked her doe eyes at Alastor, softening him up ever so slightly. She didn't want him leaving a single conversation with her having a sour taste in his mouth. She thanked him for his advice and kissed his cheek softly. When she stepped back, that cheek was a bit redder.

She was so hard not to adore. Even for sadistic, calculating Alastor.

When Elida retired to her room, she sat at her computer, double checking her firewall. Her security was intact. She covered the webcam anyway, just in case. Using the VPN that the seraphim had graciously provided, Elida set her location to 'Hell' and began researching the Vees.

She was disgusted to see that the one known as Velvette had a website selling love potions. No respectable witch used love potions; they went against the laws of consent, which were sacred to their practice. Aphrodisiacs were great for mutually consenting adults, but love potions created a vile and artificial infatuation that made Elida's blood boil.

She looked up a few clips and blurbs from some of Hell's top talk shows, trying to get an idea of what she'd be discussing during the call with Vox. They all dripped with empty buzzwords and rage bait. Heaven's television stations were clearly much better quality. It wasn't hard to see why Alastor's radio show was so popular, despite being an older technology. His podcast had more substance and consistency.

Elida immediately regretted looking up Valentino. Two seconds in and that tab was closed and permanently erased from her search history. Vox, on the other hand, had a far more professional online presence.

Elida briefly imagined what having a TV for a head would feel like. How would someone need to die to manifest in a form like that? Electrocution? A pallet of TVs falling on him? An internet challenge gone wrong? Vox had apparently not shared that information, because it wasn't anywhere to be found on the internet.

After an hour or two of background research, Elida forced herself to step away and head to bed. She had a big day ahead of her in the morning.