Hey there!

This was written for the Stolitz Lunar New Year, a little event on X/Twitter by Murrielberries, where we submitted prompts and were assigned someone else' prompt!

Here's what I made with mine ^^

Enjoy!

Three names

Stolas had done his best to try and keep track of the circus performing in Pride, but it was made difficult as long as he was still confined inside the palace, unable to go out alone.

Then he grew up and was finally able to get out more or less on his own, after having made enough progress in his magic studies ensuring he could defend himself and portal back home if needed. It was now or never to go back to the circus, especially when his butler was already telling him he was too old for this, but Stolas knew his marriage years would arrive soon enough, and he certainly didn't want to waste any time.

It was barely a month after he started going out by himself that he found a leaflet with a circus whose main performer's names rang a bell. So he did some research and here it was: a performance including an act with twins, one of them being named Blitzo.

Yes! Stolas beamed, trying not to grasp too had on the leaflet in his enthusiasm. It's his circus, finally! After all these years, I'll finally be able to see him again! Oh, I hope he'll remember me?

It was a real worry for the young owl, for Blitzo had promised he'd come again to play, but he never returned. Maybe he didn't have a choice, since his circus moved out of town very quickly after that, and he was a young boy then so he couldn't travel alone, much like Stolas at the time, but still, the owl was sad not to have seen him again, and he was so worried the imp wouldn't recognize him!

He was told to always appear royal wherever he went, but wouldn't it be weird to go meet a friend in a circus? Stolas hesitated for a few minutes before deciding to go in his current royal attire, adjusted to his current size. He wasn't very tall yet, all adults Goetias were still towering above him, but he was taller than all the imp servants in his palace, and apparently it was normal, he would probably really start growing soon… "At least I hope, the wedding is only in five years, he better not still look like a child by then", Paimon had muttered during his last mirror call.

Stolas supposed it meant his father simply hoped he wouldn't grow too late. After all, even he could picture how ridiculous it would be if he was married to a much taller wife. His future wife, Stella, had already proven to be quite… Unpleasant, to put it lightly, the few times they met, but at least she was as tall as he was for now.

Either way, wearing the outfit he was the most comfortable with was probably his best bet - he actually didn't have much choice anyway - the small crown he was wearing when he first met Blitzo firmly placed in his head feathers, hoping it would help the imp recognize him. Stolas himself was sure he could recognize his childhood friend easily, even if the poster announcing their twin act didn't have pictures of them.

It had been too late in the day when he realized about the circus, but he was decided to go the next day. Stolas never studied faster, using the advance he had taken yesterday night to be able to finish early enough to have Mr Butler's permission to leave for a bit in time to assist to Blitzo's circus' last performance of the afternoon, since he already knew he wouldn't be allowed to go to the evening one.

Stolas had a hard time concealing his excitement to his butler, only letting his joy and bouncing steps show after he portaled to the circus itself, gazing up at the same banners he remembered from his childhood. At least he supposed, he had his gaze down when they entered the circus the first time and only looked around when they left, but he was still pretty sure they were the same, with the same colors, tho to be perfectly honest they did look like the banners he saw at others circus he asked to go to in hope it might be Blitzo's, soon after his meeting with the child.

People were staring at him as he walked between the tents, simply looking around in awe, until he finally spotted the huge tent where the show was supposed to take place. The young prince quickly entered, taking the seat he deemed to be the best to see the show, near the front, without realizing he was tall enough to disturb the view of the demons behind him. But since he was a Goetia, no one dared to say anything, only casting him stunned glances at seeing what looked like a preteen royal moving his legs excitedly on his seat while smiling at the stage in excited impatience.

This time, Stolas did pay attention to the other acts. Some of them were good, but no matter how good, nothing was captivating him enough that he could stop thinking about the one he came here to see…

Until they both appeared at last, and it was like everything else disappeared as Stolas' whole attention was taken by the male imp, who also grew up and looked a bit shy for a moment, until the rest of the crowd noticed them, and he plastered on the confident smile Stolas remembered, and it felt like the show was finally starting.

Blitzo and his sister Barbie's number has been way too short for Stolas' liking, but brilliant all the same. The owl wondered if he had been noticed, he had been pretty loud and felt like Blitzo's gaze often went near him, but maybe he was looking at the crowd as a whole, or maybe just to other noisy people. Stolas himself didn't really pay attention to the others, although he did notice the audience was oddly quiet at some moments that were to him extremely impressive or hilarious.

When the twins returned behind the curtains, the prince couldn't suppress the urge to get up and exit the tent as well, not giving a single fuck about the rest of the show and hoping to be able to finally reunite with his childhood friend.

He naively expected to see the imp as soon as he left the show, but of course it wouldn't be that simple. Still, Stolas was giddy at the idea of seeing him again. Besides, it made sense that Blitzo wouldn't be able to come and meet him himself, he was probably busy with after act stuff, like removing his costume and everything they used during their number.

At least it wasn't too hard to spot the tent used for preparations. It was hidden from the paths used by visitors, but as soon as Stolas left them to round the tent where the show took place, there was another one on the side from where performers entered on stage. Stolas headed straight for it, before shyly entering through the nearest opening.

"Ah, hello?"

A few imps were running around, probably to set up the next act. Two of them spotted the Goetia and stopped dead in their tracks, similar bewildered looks on their faces.

"Oh shit, uh, what, uh, hello sir, what can we do for you?" One of them babbled, looking stressed.

"Sorry to intrude while the show isn't over, I was hoping to perhaps be able to talk to Blitzo, if he's not needed anymore?" Stolas asked, hoping he didn't leave too early and missed another act where his childhood was supposed to perform. He didn't think so, at least his name didn't appear on the program after that, but who knows.

"Ah, of course, I'll fetch him for you la…"

The other imp elbowed him and the first sputtered before he could start talking again.

"I mean, I'll fetch him immediately!"

"Perfect, thank you! I'll wait outside", Stolas beamed before stepping out, having realized a lot of other imps were halting or slowing down when they noticed him too.

He had barely found a place near the entry to wait that he heard footsteps running toward it. It could be related to the still ongoing performance, but Stolas had the inexplicable feeling it wasn't.

Indeed, barely a few seconds later, Blitzo burst out of the tent, still in his outfit from his act but without his makeup, not that he was wearing a lot for this specific number. He had grown too, but not quite as much as Stolas, thought he wasn't too far from his height compared to most other imps. Stolas smiled and started walking toward him when Blitzo finally spotted the owl, and he smiled back.

"Fuck, I did think I recognized your laugh earlier! I wasn't sure with that fucking light in my face, but it's you!"

"Hello Blitzo", Stolas greeted him, trying to contain his excitement. "Yes, it was me! I'm glad you noticed."

"Ha! Hard not to, you were the only one laughing for most of our part with Barb. You didn't have to do that by the way", he winked.

Stolas simply blinked, from his main eyes then his top eyes, taken aback.

"Do what?" He naively asked.

"Try so hard to pretend the act was good. I know we're not that good, especially my acting and acrobatic skills!" He said, trying to appear casual, but his words still made the young owl frown.

"But I wasn't pretending! You were doing a great job, it's not my fault if the others didn't appreciate it!"

The imp snorted again.

"Damn, you didn't go to the circus often since last time then, did you?"

Stolas blushed.

"Ah, I don't know… Kind of? I was… I was looking for your circus, but, ah, I couldn't find it and couldn't be on my own until recently…"

"Oh yeah? Your old man was on your back all the time?" Blitz smirked. Stolas rubbed his arm, his smile uneasy.

"I suppose, in a way… So, how have you been? I thought you would come back to play again!" The owl changed the subject, not able to keep the childish whine out of his voice.

"Yeah, about that…" Blitzo started, looking away while rubbing the back of his head. "I wanted to, really! It's just, we moved out quickly after that, and, you know, I can explore outside the circus when I'm done with my chores, but I couldn't travel rings by myself either, so…"

"Oh… I understand. Ahem. Are you free now? I don't, I wouldn't want to keep you away from your duties and friends, but I thought maybe we could… Hang out?"

Blitzo looked dumbstruck for a moment before a grin overtook his features.

"Sure thing Stolas! Not much has changed, but since it's been years since the last time you came here, I'm sure you won't remember everything! Let me show you around all the best stuff to do!"

Suddenly, it was as if they were both young children again, with Blitzo taking Stolas' hand to drag him around, not minding their slight height difference, and showing him a world the royal didn't know.

It was truly a new universe of wonders, for when the imp managed the same on their first encounter, he was doing it in Stolas' own home, helping him see the place were he lived under a new light. But now that the clown was showing him his own place? The change of scene was even more breathtaking, and Stolas couldn't get enough as they did attractions together. Blitzo would make him skip the lines, and sometimes even do activities without having to pay.

It was so great, there was so much to see, but like years before, Stolas wasn't used to moving around and so much walking, so they had to take a break. They both stopped before a stand of snacks, and Stolas decided to buy whatever Blitzo told him was good, before sharing with his friend on a bench, laughing together as the prince was told about the circus life, it's perks and annoying aspects, the imp very good at turning the story of the most annoying customer into an entertaining tale.

The afternoon was very quick to turn into evening, and Stolas knew he would have to leave soon. Needless to say that he didn't want to, but he also knew he didn't have a choice, his face turning gloomy as soon as Blitzo stopped talking for a few seconds, until the imp finally took notice.

"What's the matter? Finally realized our imp circus is lame?" He asked, smiling, but there was a hint of vulnerability behind it. Stolas was quick to straighten up and wave his hands in a negative gesture.

"Oh, no no, I love it, on the contrary! It's just that, I'll soon have to return to the palace, and it makes me sad. I like it here."

The clown looked sympathetic.

"Yeah, your place is nice but really big and empty. But you'll be able to come back now, right?"

"Not often, I fear, but I'll try!" Stolas smiled. "Do you know when you'll move and where?"

Blitzo shrugged.

"Not really, but I'm sure you can follow where we are on hellnet!"

Stolas tilted his head, but before he could ask for more details, Blitzo suddenly let out an enthusiastic "Ha!" and took the owl's hand to drag him to another stall.

"Here, I got the perfect idea to finish the day then! Here's a shooting range! If you can hit the mark, you'll win one of the plushies! This one is all starry looking, it's like what you said your duties were about, right?"

Stolas brightened at the idea that his friend remembered that. At least he was sure he did, he didn't speak much about what happened on his side apart from his studies, since he knew it was probably all quite boring. He didn't want to make a repeat of their last encounter, where he bored Blitzo with his books. It was much more fun to let the imp take the lead from the start, and Blitzo had proven him right.

"Okay, I'll try!"

This imp vendor made the prince pay, but Stolas didn't mind, wanting to impress his friend. After all, owls have very acute eyesight, so it should be easy, right?

Apparently not, because even after 5 tries, the target still wasn't down, and the only time the owl managed to hit it, it wasn't even in the center, which was probably why it didn't fall.

"I suppose I'm not very good at that, sorry…" Stolas apologized, putting the gun down while rubbing the back of his head. "What a shame, I'd have loved to bring something from here back with me!"

While the royal was busy looking longingly at the stuffed toy, Blitzo glared at the imp running it, who shrugged and moved aside.

A click could barely be heard amidst all the noises from the circus, not loud enough for Stolas to pay attention. He did look, however, when Blitzo retrieved the gun and winked at him.

"Don't worry Stolas, you're not leaving empty handed, trust me! I'll get it for you, just you watch."

The imp took a step back, away from the counter. The owl looked curiously, wondering why he was making it harder for him to hit the center of the target, but before he could ask, the gun fired, and the projectile hit the wooden figure spot on, making it fly. Stolas hooted in excitement, clapping his hands with little bounces as Blitzo blew imaginary smoke from the gun.

"Wow, impressive! You must have trained a lot to be able to do it from that far!"

"Eh, yeah, I live here, it has it's perks!" Blitz smirked, gesturing at the imp from the stall to hand their reward. "I can't get any further than that tho, or the wind messes my aim too much. Those things aren't super precise. Here, your plush!"

The stuffed toy was the only star themed one, and stood out from the rest. It was quickly retrieved to be handed to the Goetia, who hugged it with a bright smile.

"Thank you Blitzo, I love it!"

"It's nothing", the imp brushed off with a light blush.

"No, really, it was really cool how you shot it, and this plush is so soft!" Stolas squealed like if he was a nestling again, looking down at the stuffed toy in his arms.

"Yeah, it's cool I guess. You gonna name it? Because I got an idea if you want?"

The prince looked around and winced when he realized what time it was. He should already have returned home. He hoped they wouldn't mind if he was just a little late… But then Blitzo's words immediately took his focus back.

"A name? I don't know, it's not really a character, just stars together… Ooooh, like a constellation name you mean? It's true that humans give them fun names, and each individual star can have a name too!"

"Really? Nice, that's plenty of name to find, then! So, for the whole plush, I'd say…"

The imp took his hand to his chin, thinking. Stolas didn't let him, quick to suggest:

"Maybe Biscuit Queen or Stapler, like you wanted to name your horses?"

"Nah, they're taken! Besides, they don't fit stars. I know! How about Unicorn?"

Stolas tilted his head. Sure, it could look like a unicorn depending on the angle you were looking at it, and the shading helped the feeling a bit, but it still wasn't that obvious to him, especially when all he could think of were the disposition of the stars of the actual unicorn constellation.

"Well, there's a constellation named that, but it doesn't really look like it", Stolas said, looking down at the plush again. "It's more like Orion's belt I suppose."

"Belt? Stars have belt?" Blitzo laughed, trying to picture it.

"Ah, no, it's just the name of a part of Orion's constellation…"

"Wait, I have better! What about Pinto?"

Stolas' eyes widened.

"Oooh, yes, it fits!" He smiled, looking at the colors of the three stars pressed against each other. Maybe if could even form other shapes if you looked really hard or twisted it a certain way.

"Great! Now, we gotta figure out names for each star individually!"

"What about you think of names, I'll think of some on my own too, and next time we see each other, we'll decide, alright?" Stolas offered, smiling excitedly before it turned sad. "I'm sorry, I really need to go, I should have returned half an hour ago already."

"Oh…" Blitzo looked sad at the idea too, before he brightened again. "Yeah, sure, I'll look into proper names for stars! We can think of some while I walk you to the exit."

"No need, I can go back from here", Stolas explained as he opened a portal. The imp stood there gaping as he looked at the magic while the owl crossed with a hand gesture while still holding firmly onto Pinto.

"Thank you for today Blitzo. I hope I'll be able to return soon."

The awe finally faded into a grin as the imp waved back. "I hope too, I'll be the one waiting this time!"

They both held each other's gaze for as long as they could, not wanting the moment to end, until the portal closed, hiding them from each other's sight.

It was their third Full Moon since the deal started. They were still getting used to each other after so much time without any new encounter, and it both felt like meeting and old friend, but also like if said old friend had become a complete stranger.

Still, the sex was good. Mind blowing even. For both of them, even if Blitz would never admit that out loud.

This time, he did linger a bit longer than usual in bed after they were done, even tho their post coital smoke was long since finished.

"Sooo, is your business still booming?" Stolas asked conversationally. "How did you end up dealing with that client you told me about last Monday? Did you manage to prove to her that you completed the hit even with the body removed on Earth?"

"Yeah yeah, easy shit!" Blitz shrugged, arms crossed behind his head as he was still propped against the headboard, while the prince was fully laying on the bed, turned toward him with his head on his elbow, smiling. "Moxxie managed to find some Earth media announcing his death, and she met with the target in Hell soon after anyway, so she couldn't really deny it anymore."

"Oooh, how fascinating! It must be unlikely for two people who knew each other while alive to cross path here!" Stolas wondered.

"Eh, not that much you know. But yeah, to answer your question, business is doing well, thanks to your fancy book and all. That what you wanted to hear?"

"Of course! I'm delighted to know it's doing okay. Although I'll admit, I'm still a bit curious about your change of plans from our childhood…"

Blitz tensed. They hadn't really talked about the past all that much since meeting again when Blitz tried to steal the grimoire, and he did not want to have to explain to a royal, even if it was one he played with as a kid then preteen, why he gave up anything circus related entirely, and would continue so for the rest of his life as long as he could. Loo Loo Land didn't count, it was a dark time where he didn't have a choice but accept any job that would have him.

"…so, did you name the plants in your office with the names you wanted to give your horses?" Stolas finished, and the assassin tensed when he realized he had missed a whole lot of the owl's rambling. Whatever, he could work with that last question at least.

"Uh, no, I didn't name them. Why, did you name every bit of grass in your bloody garden?"

Stolas hooted in a soft laugh, and Blitz looked away to hide the slight blush that appeared at hearing that sound again, that he was still able to get out of the prince.

"Oh no, not each blade of grass no! But every plant indeed has a name. But I admit, I'm probably cheating, every plant coming from the same source, meaning they're a clone and not a descendant, usually has the same name, but with numbers! It's easier to keep track that way. I hope you won't mind that I named one of them Biscuit Queen, it really fitted it! They love biscuits", the owl smiled softly, and Blitz raised an eyebrow, surprised that the Goetia remembered the names he threw around at the time so precisely.

But then, if both their encounters were such a precious memories as he claimed, why did he never return to the circus? Blitz hadn't dared to ask yet, but it was weighting on him. Because he had been sad to not be able to return, even if he was also scared of the consequences should he see the Goetias again in case someone noticed the theft. But then, Stolas returned alone, and seemed to only remember the good, and they did have a good time, Stolas being an even better audience than Barb or Fizz.

Maybe it was just him. He tried not to let his father's employees siphon Stolas' money, he even won him that plush toy to make up for all the stolen items, but to a prince, what was one more toy when he could have any he wanted? It was probably a funny little outing in peasant world for him before he returned to whatever shit royals do. That's why he never returned. Blitz supposed it served him right, since he did the same. It wasn't like if having Stolas around would have been good, given what happened to the circus only a few years later…

"Blitz?"

The imp blinked, looking down at Stolas now slightly worried gaze, and he realized he stayed silent for too long.

"Sorry. Yeah, it's a fine name for a plant. It's a living thing too, I guess. It just wasn't a good name for a star", he added, before he froze.

They hadn't really spoken about their second encounter at all, as if it never existed, and he wasn't sure if it was a good thing to bring it up or not. But then, Stolas beamed, sitting up straight, and it was like if Blitz was back in the past, looking at a barely taller than him owl prince whose excitement and innocence matched his child self so well it was easy to see a fluffy ball of feathers instead.

"Oh, you remember that too?"

"Duh, of course I do! I take my naming skills seriously!" The imp answered with a snob like air. Stolas clasped his hands, still looking as giddy as when Blitz showed him around the circus.

"Then, I hope you didn't forget your promise!"

"What promise?" The imp asked somewhat worriedly.

The bird, who was now twice his size, suddenly got off the bed to go rummaging in one of the closets. The assassin watched him with a perplexed expression, until he saw Stolas return with a three stars plush, the colors and shape exactly the same than it was that day, despite some signs of age on the fabric.

Stolas quickly brought the stuffed toy back to the bed, hugging it fiercely yet carefully, and once again, all Blitz could see was the prince's former self doing exactly the same with his newly acquired prize.

"The stars!" The prince said as he showed off the toy, and the assassin had trouble coming back to the present.

That was definitely not the attitude he expected from a grown up prince, and he was still… Confused, yeah, confused, as to why Stolas still had that. He looked up from the toy to Stolas' face before he was able to articulate words again.

"Yeah, I remember winning it for you. I thought you threw it, you probably have so many of them."

Stolas' face went from so overly happy to horrified.

"Blitz, I would never! I do have more plushies, and I have another favourite from before you gave me this one, but it became my second favourite, and even my first over time, since I could let it in my study and people wouldn't even notice amidst the star decoration. It could even pass as one of Via's toys when she was young. But well, it's not like many people go there apart from me, so I ended up moving it back, but, ah… I thought it was better to keep it out of sight. I mean, it's silly for even a teenager to need one so…"

"Wait wait wait!" The imp stopped him. "Why do you like it so much? Surely you have other star or planet shaped plushies like that!"

"Not really, not anything quite like it at least", Stolas explained, demeanor dropping a bit. "Besides, it's not just the theme. It's also the fact that you were the one to win it for me", he confessed with a soft but genuine smile, eyes meeting Blitz's again.

The imp felt a warmth in his chest, and quickly tried to replace it with indifference as he waved Stolas' mushiness away.

"Yeah yeah,sure, that's why you never came back", he grumbled, trying not to sound too affected by it.

"Oh, I'm… I'm sorry Blitz. I would have if I could, truly! But… I got in a bit of trouble, since I returned so late after my allowed time. I wasn't allowed to go out on my own after that, both as a punishment and to make sure I'd focus on my studies and my training to behave like a Goetia, which included, ahem, not being late… Besides, I didn't have access to Hellnet, so I couldn't easily follow where your circus went, and when I finally was able to, I guess I didn't really know how to use it, because I never found your circus after that."

The assassin froze, both at the realization that, like him, Stolas really didn't have a choice, which was a possibility he had hoped for but buried deep, deep to make sure it wouldn't hurt if he was proved wrong, especially after the fire. But there was also the fact that Stolas truly couldn't have found Blitz without knowing where his circus was, and if his guess was correct, then Stolas probably had access to the information only after… After his circus disappeared for good.

"Ah, shit, yeah, I guess it'd have been easier if we had our own page or something, eh?" Blitz tried to brush off, quickly looking for a way to change the subject, although he was truly, weirdly reassured at the idea that Stolas did want to see him again but couldn't, exactly like him after their first day.

Well, since he was the first one to betray his word of coming back, it was probably only fair that he ended up being the one to reach out as adults, now that he thought about it. Blitz smiled softly for the smallest moment, before he tried to appear annoyed again.

"So, what was that about names? I'm pretty sure we already found a name for your toy before you left."

"We did! Or rather, you did", Stolas smiled. "It was Pinto. But you said we should think of names for each star of the constellation so we could share and decide together next time we'd meet! I think we're long overdue that name pooling, don't you?"

Blitz smirked, nonchalantly rolling on his side to be facing Stolas, who was holding the plush to clearly show off the three stars it was composed of to Blitz.

"Yeah, I remember that. Well, lucky you, since then, I did have time to research star names! I hope you got your own ideas, because they're bound to be outshone by mine!"

"I do, but please, let me hear yours first, I've been dying to hear your suggestions for so long! These poor little stars deserve individual names, don't you think?" Stolas winked, and while the assassin did roll his eyes, he couldn't completely hid the affection in his look.

"Yeah, I guess. So let's see…"

29/01/2025

If you're also following Selfless, I'll try to update by the end of the week, but no promise ^^'